1 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


NOTES 


FROM    TITK 


LETTERS  OF  THOMAS  MOORE 


TO   HIS 


MUSIC  PUBLISHER,  JAMES  POWER 


(THE     PUBLICATION     OF     WHICH     WAS     SUPPRESSED     IM     LONDOH.) 


WITH   AN   INTRODUCTORY  LETTER  FROM 


THOMAS   CROFTON   CROKER,  ESQ,.,  F.S.A. 


RE  D  FIE  LD 

110     AND     112     NASSAU    STREET 
NEW   YORK 


f tfttflhtttot])   fetter 


FROM 


T.  CEOFTON  CHOKER,  ESQ. 


3  Gloucester  Road,  Old  Brompton, 
London,  Stli  March,  1S54. 
To  J.  S.  Redfield,  Esqr. 

110  Nassau  Street,  New  York. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  to  thank  you  for  your  courtesy  in  forward- 
ing to  me  the  sheets  of  "the  Notes  from  the  Letters  of  Thomas 
Moore  to  his  Music  Publisher,  James  Power,"  which,  having  been 
suppressed  in  this  country,  were  purchased  by  you  for  publica- 
tion in  America,  and  requesting  to  know,  with  reference  to  myself, 
•whether  there  is  any  thing  I  would  wish  to  have  altered  or 
cancelled  therein. 

"Whoever  the  editor  may  be,  I  will  presume  to  make  no  correc- 
tions upon  what  he  is  pleased  to  state  respecting  me ;  there  is 
indeed  little  or  nothing  on  my  part  to  object  to,  except  that  matters 
of  such  small  moment  as  those  in  which  I  am  named  should  be 
thought  worthy  of  being  recalled  to  memory;  and  I  only  beg  to 
observe  that  at  p.  81,  the  wood-cut  given  was  from  a  drawing  by  my 
friend  William  Henry  Brooke,  although  I  certainly  did  design  the 
engraved  title-page  of  the  Sth  number  of  the  Irish  Melodies — a 
group  of  antiquarian  objects  surmounted  by  a  Irish  harp;  to  which 
Moore  refers.  However  "  violently,"  as  you  observe,  the  Right 
Honorable  John  Wilson  Croker  remonstrated  in  the  Times  of  30th 
January  last  against  Lord  John  Russell's  "  spitefulness,"  I  have 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  his  literary  or  political  differences, 
although  Mr.  Wilson  Croker  is  an  old  and  valued  friend  of  mine. 

I  will  therefore  proceed,  to  the  best  of  my  humble  ability,  to 


G64164 


IV  INTRODUCTORY    LETTER. 

reply  to  your  questions ;  and  if  I  should  exceed  the  ordinary  limits 
of  a  letter,  I  trust  to  your  indulgence  to  pardon  ray  tediousness. 

Thomas  Moore — about  whom  I  need  not  say  one  word  herd,  as 
a  poet — died  on  the  26th  February,  1852,  and  for  some  time  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  it  was  no  secret  that,  like  Swift,  Scott  and  Sou- 
they,  his  mental  faculties  had  been  gone.  It  was  also  generally 
known  that  for  some  years  previous  to  the  failure  of  his  memory 
he  was  in  the  habit  of  keeping  a  journal  and  of  writing  notes,  with 
the  view  of  leaving  behind  him  materials  for  a  Biography,  as  a 
provision  for  his  widow.  But  who  the  editor  of  that  Biography 
was  to  have  been  did  not  exactly  transpire  until  the  promulgation 
of  the  poet's  will,  written  in  1828,  in  which  Lord  John  Russell 
was  named.  A  "  task"  which  his  Lordship,  in  compliance  with  his 
promise,  nobly  undertook.  How  he  has  accomplished  it  is  another 
question;  nor  have  I  any  thing  to  do  with  American  opinions  re- 
specting Viscount  Mahon  or  Lord  John  Russell  as  historians,  what- 
ever my  own  opinion  may  be. 

It  had  been  a  curious  practice  with  Moore  to  ask  various  people 
to  write  a  posthumous  Memoir  of  him.  He  certainly  did  so  to 
Viscount  Strangford  in  180G,  to  myself  in  IS  19,  and,  I  have  been 
well  assured,  to  others  subsequently.  Among  them,  the  late  Mr. 
Moran,  the  sub-editor  of  the  Globe  newspaper,  who  in  conse- 
quence formed  extensive  but  not  very  important  collections  chiefly 
of  newspaper-cuttings  for  the  purpose.  On  the  25th  April,  1837, 
Moore  visited  Moran,  and  on  the  following  day  he  thus  wrote 
to  me — "  Moore  was  particularly  pleased  with  my  annotated  copy 
of  his  works,  saying,  '  Well,  it  is  something  to  have  a  commentator, 
and  a  friendly  one  too,  while  one  is  alive.'  He  also  obtained  a 
promise  that  I  was  to  let  him  have  the  use  of  my  collection  for  a 
posthumous  work  which  he  contemplates,  and  which  I  hope  the 
public  will  long  lack  the  sight  of.  I  gave  him  a  hint  of  your  trea- 
sures, of  which  also — i.  e.,  of  their  existence — he  seemed  well 
aware." 

The  connection  which  had  existed  between  the  late  Mr.  Power, 
the  publisher  of  Moore's  most  popular  work,  the  Irish  Melodies, 
from  the  year  1806  to  Mr.  Power's  death  in  1830,  with  a  short 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  V 

interval  of  estrangement  in  1832-3,  always  induced  me  to  regard 

the  collection  of  Moore's  letters  to  him,  which  he  had  carefully 

preserved,  as  perhaps  the  most  important  scries  of  documents  for 

the  poet's  biography  ;  and  that  they  are  "  irretrievably  dispersed," 

to  use  the.  words  of  your  advertisement,  "has  been  and  still  is  a 

matter  of  regret,"  which  however  adds  considerably  to  the  value 

of  your  book. 

The  widow  of  Mr.  Power  died  on  the  17th  July,  1850 ;  and  by 

her  these  letters,  manuscript  music,  the  musical  copyright  of  the 

Irish  Melodies  and  other  works,  were  bequeathed  to  her  unmarried 

daughters. 

Some  months  afterwards,  in  conversation  with  the  Misses  Power 

» 

I  offered  to  assist  them  in  arranging  this  mass  of  letters  ;  and  as  it 
appeared  to  me  that  many  of  them  might  be  required  for  publication, 
and  that  a  certain  value  attached  to  the  originals  as  autographs,  I 
recommended  them  to  prepare  transcripts,  to  be  ready  when 
wanted,  as  the  doing  so  would  be  a  work  of  time  and  labor,  and 
the  state  of  Moore's  mind  and  health  had  then  removed  all  delicacy 
of  feeling  on  the  subject.  I  observed  to  these  ladies,  who  were 
perfectly  aware  of  the  fact,  that  Moore  was  then  dead  to  the 
world  ;  and  that  in  whatever  shape  a  Memoir  of  him  was  to  appear 
upon  his  bodily  demise,  or  whoever  was  to  be  the  editor  of  his  Jour- 
nal, the  most  interesting  letters  would  probably  be  selected  for 
publication,  and  if  not  copied,  might  in  passing  through  the  press  be 
either  injured  or  destroyed.  For  many  months  did  these  ladies 
assiduously  transcribe  the  letters  in  their  possession,  to  the  amount 
of  about  twelve  hundred,  which  had  been  addressed  by  the  poet 
Moore  to  their  late  father.  And  if,  as  Mr.  Bentley  (the  eminent 
London  publisher)  told  me,  he  was  prepared  to  offer  to  Mrs.  Moore 
£4000  for  her  late  husband's  papers,  as  the  foundation  for  his 
Biography,  I  had  no  hesitation  in  expressing  to  the  Misses  Power 
my  conviction  that,  in  the  same  ratio,  the  collection  of  letters  in 
their  possession  could  not  be  worth  less  than  ,£500,  for  the  same 
purpose. 

On  the  25th  May,  1852,  I  was  informed  that  Lord  John  Russell 
had  advised  the  acceptance  of  an  offer  made  by  Messrs.  Longman 


VI  INTRODUCTORY    LETTER. 

&  Co.,  on  condition  of  his  Lordship  undertaking  to  be  the  editor  of 
Mr.  Moore's  papers,  and  the  sura  offered  for  which,  (stated  to 
have  been  £3000,)  "with,"  adds  Lord  John  Russell,  "the  small 
pension  allowed  by  the  crown,"  (£100  per  annum,)  "  would  enable 
Mrs.  Moore  to  enjoy  for  the  remainder  of  her  life  the- moderate 
income  which  had  latterly  been  the  extent  and  limit  of  the  yearly 
family  expenditure." 

From  copies  of  about  twelve  hundred  letters  forwarded  at  Mrs. 
Moore's  request  for  Lord  John  Russell's  information,  fifty-seven 
only,  as  you  correctly  slate  in  the  advertisement,  were  selected  and 
published  by  his  Lordship,  many  with  omissions,  which  I  observe 
the  editor  has  supplied.  The  copies  of  Moore's  letters  to  Mr. 
Power  subsequent  to  181S  were  returned  to  his  daughters  with  a 
fewr  unnecessary  blottings.  All  the  original  letters  were  then 
placed  in  my  hands;  and  after  having  carefully  read 'them  over 
and  weeded  them,  to  the  best  of  my  judgment,  of  letters  con- 
taining offensive  personalities,  I  had  no  hesitation  in  recommending 
their  sale  as  autographs,  with  the  view  to  a  pecuniary  division 
of  property  between  two  sisters.  Some  good  judges  estimating  the 
value  of  a  letter  at  sixpence,  others  being  of  opinion  that  five 
shillings  each  would  be  a  fair  average  price,  there  was  no  other 
way  of  testing  this  difference  of  valuation  than  in  determining  the 
question  by  public  sale. 

Accordingly,  one  thousand  original  letters  and  notes  from 
Thomas  Moore  to  Mr.  Power  were  sold  "  by  Messrs.  Puttick  & 
Simpson,  auctioneers  of  literary  property,  at  their  great  room,  191 
Piccadilly,  on  Thursday,  June  23,  1853,  and  the  following  day." 
Their  catalogue,  which  is  now  not  to  be  procured,  although  eagerly 
sought  after,  appears  to  have  been  the  foundation  of  your  volume, 
and  is  very  properly  acknowledged  as  such.  The  additions  made 
by  the  editor  and  pointed  out  in  the  advertisement  add  con- 
siderably to  the  interest  of  the  work.  Personally  I  cannot  but 
feel  highly  flattered  at  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Moore  is  pleased 
to  regard  me  in  his  conversation  with  my  late  valued  friend,"  John 
O'Driscol. 

The  British  public  seem  to  have  read  with  regret  u  the  Memoirs, 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  vii 

Journal  and  Correspondence  of  Thomas  Moore,  edited  by  the  Right 
Honorable  Lord  John  Russell,"  and  complaints  have  been  made 
of  many  painful  and  unfair  paragraphs  having  been  allowed  to 
appear.  Moore's  autobiography  of  his  boyhood,  full  of  childish 
reminiscences,  has  been  printed  by  the  noble  editor  of  the  poet's 
remains  without  any  attempt  to  explain  or  illustrate  it.  From 
documentary  evidence,  which  could  easily  have  been  procured,  it 
can  be  shown  to  be  most  unsatisfactory  and  deceptive — to  use  no 
harsher  word,  which — however,  may  be  applied  to  the  narrative  of 
Moore's  foolish  duel  with  Jeffrey  in  1806, 

"When  Little's  leadless  pistol  met  the  eye." 

Four  hundred  carelessly  arranged  and  not  very  judiciously  se- 
lected letters,  ranging  in  date  from  January,  1793,  to  8th  No- 
vember, 1818,  follow  this  autobiographical  fragment,  among  which 
letters  is  wedged  in  the  account  of  this  memorable  duel;  and  upon 
the  whole,  about  twenty  editorial  notes,  some  of  one  word  only, 
occur — perhaps  altogether  they  may  make  forty  lines,  and  are  of 
little  or  no  consequence.  Moore's  Diary  follows,  commencing  on 
the  18th  August,  1818,  and  occupies  four  8vo.  volumes  and  a  half, 
terminating  at  an  exceedingly  odd  date — not  the  close  of  the  year 
1833,  but  the  31st  October,  1833,  for  as  odd  a  reason,  because, 
"  having*  reached  a  period  only  twenty  years  from  the  present 
time,"  (i.  e.,  the  precise  date  on  which  the  sixth  volume  *  was  com- 
mitted to  the  press,)  the  remaining  portion  of  materials  are  to  be 
employed  with  more  reserve ;  and  announcing  what  the  public  had 
already  discovered,  that  "  the  constant  repetition  of  daily  engage- 
ments becomes  at  length  wearisome."  Had  these  thoughts  before 
occurred  to  the  unreflecting  editor  of  Moore's  Diary,  they  might 
have  saved  some  pangs  to  parties  still  living,  who  have  been  most 
wantonly  assailed,  and  have  judiciously  reduced  the  length  of 
admitted  weariness  to  the  reader. 

The  passages  which  occur  in  Volume  VI.,  and  to  which  you  call 
my  attention,  with  reference  to  Mr.  Power,  are  indeed  not  only 

*  The  volumes  referred  are  those  of  the  London  edition. 


Vlll  INTRODUCTORY    LETTER. 

painful  and  unfair,  but  the  intioduct'on  of  *  *  *  twice  over 
furnishes  inuendoes  against  the  character  of  Moore's  early  patron 
and  friend,  which,  even  if  true,  should  not  have  been  allowed  to 
appear;  and  therefore  the  singular  termination  of  the  poet's  Diary 
requires,  as  you  observe,  some  explanation,  as  in  this  very  gap  of 
two  months — November  and  December,  1833 — was  Mr.  Power's 
conduct  (of  which  Mr.  Moore  complains  so  strongly,  and  against 
which  Lord  John  Russell  allows  insinuations  to  appear)  most  com- 
pletely and  triumphantly  vindicated.  Why  then  close  the  Diary 
on  the  31st  of  October,  leaving  a  slur  upon  Mr.  Power's  name,  which 
would  not  have  been  the  case  if  the  Diary  had  been  continued  to 
the  31st  December,  and  there  was  any  truthfulness  in  it? 

Your  advertisement  has  echoed  the  popular  soubriquet  of 
"Honest  James  Power ;"  and  it  will  be  for  Lord  John  Russell  to 
explain,  if  he  can,  why,  after  having  published  Moore's  unfounded, 
pettish,  and  then  virulent  attacks  upon  his  music  publisher,  he  has 
not  the  moral  courage  to  avow  himself  that  they  are  unjust.  And 
that  publishers  of  Messrs.  Longmans'  reputation,  to  whom  the 
transaction  must  have  been  well  known,  could  have  lent  themselves 
to  the  promulgation  of  a  garbled  statement,  in  deference  to  the 
judgment  of  any  noble  Lord,  I  confess,  to  me,  is  both  matter  of 
surprise  and  grief.  Let  them,  however,  to  use  the  quaint  phrase 
of  their  editor,  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  "  safe  malignity"  against  the 
memory  of  a  brother  tradesman,  who,  when  alive,  was  courted  by 
them. 

In  what  I  am  about  to  state  to  you,  in  compliance  with  your 
request,  truth  and  justice  shall  be  my  only  guides  towards  the 
graves  of  departed  individuals,  where,  I  had  hoped,  all  differences 
of  opinion  would  have  been  allowed  to  repose,  respecting  a  ques- 
tion of  mere  worldly  dross.  But  as  this  has  not  been  the  case, 
the  feelings  of  the  resurrectionist  who  revives  such  memories 
must  not  be  shocked  at  learning  that  the  recollection  of  a  father 
may  be  as  dear  to  his  children  as  the  memory  of  a  husband  to 
his  widow. 

If  I  mistake  not,  the  semi-musical,  semi-literary  connection  be- 
tween the  late  Thomas  Moore  and  James  Power  (the  publisher 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  ix 

of  Moore's  Irish  Melodies)  existed  for  thirty  years.  It  com- 
menced so  far  back  as  1806,  and  the  first  number  of  that  national 
work  appeared  in  Dublin,  in  1807.  The  copyright  of  that  number 
was  purchased  from  Mr.  Moore  for  £50 ;  and  so  successful  did 
the  speculation  prove  to  be,  that  Mr.  Power  and  his  brother  soon 
afterwards  entered  into  an  agreement  to  pay  Mr.  Moore  £500  per 
annum,  for  seven  years,  to  produce  in  each  year  another  number 
of  the  Irish  Melodies,  with  a  few  single  songs  in  addition.  The 
particulars  which  led  to  the  temporary  rupture  between  Mr. 
Power,  after  upwards  of  twenty-five  years  of  the  closest  professed 
friendship  on  Moore's  part,  are  we'l  known  to  me.  Power  once 
said  to  me,  after  receiving  an  insulting  letter  from  Moore — some- 
what irritated  by  its  tone — "  By  G — ,  Mr.  Croker,  I  am  his 
banker,  bill-acceptor,  and  fish- agent — letter-carrier,  hotel- keeper, 
and  publisher,  and  now  he  wants  to  make  me  his  shoeblack." 

Certainly,  the  impression  conveyed  by  Lord  John  Russell's 
publication  is  not  only  an  ungrateful  return  on  the  part  of  Moore 
towards  his  steady  and  constant  benafector,  but  it  is  equally  erro- 
neous as  to  facts.  It  may  be  pleaded  that  a  poet  is  not  always 
bound  to  adhere  to  those  every-day,  commonplace  matters  which 
form  the  regular  occupation  of  the  mere  man  of  business ;  how- 
ever, as  I  have  been  nearly  all  my  life  more  of  the  latter  than  the 
former,  and,  as  I  have  stated,  had  opportunities  of  knowing  the 
details  of  this  matter,  in  justice  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Power, 
(and  without  communication  with  any  of  his  family,)  I  feel  it  to 
be  my  duty  at  once  to  contradict  to  you  the  statements  left  on 
record  by  Mr.  Moore,  and  it  cannot  be  advanced,  unguardedly 
published  by  Lord  John  Russell,  who,  as  your  editor  is  perfectly 
correct  in  stating,  had  the  means  afforded  to  him  of  testing  facts, 
which  his  Lordship  has  only  dene  by  making  serious  omissions 
on  the  one  side  of  the  question. 

The  circumstances  to  which  I  particularly  refer,  are  briefly 
these :  Moore  having  allowed  the  pecuniary  debt  due  by  him  to 
Mr.  Power  on  the  1st  of  January,  1820,  of  half  a  crown,  or  2s. 
6c?.,  to  creep  up  on  the  1st  of  January,  1829,  to  the  no  incon- 
siderable sum  to  a  tradesman,  of  £1665   13s.  Id.,  for  which  ad- 


X  INTRODUCTORY    LETTER. 

varices  I  believe  Mr.  Power  never  charged  him  interest,  and  for 
security,  held  no  other  than  the  brains  of  the  poet — Moore  having 
reduced  this  large  balance  due  to  Mr.  Power,  in  1832,  by  about 
£1000,  suddenly  wished  to  come  to  town  for  a  settlement  of  his 
accounts.  On  the  27th,  Moore  called  on  his  music  publisher.  It 
was  the  morning  after  Moore's  arrival  in  London ;  and  on  the 
31st,  as  usual,  made  a  convenience  of  Power's  house  by  dining 
there,  returning  to  supper,  and  leaving  his  son  to  sleep  there.  On 
the  5th  April,  Moore  thus  records  in  his  diary  : 

"To  Power's ;  having  been  urging  him  for  my  account;  indeed, 
had  written  before  I  came  to  town  to  say  that  one  of  the  chief 
objects  of  my  coming  was  to  see  how  our  long-standing  accounts 
stood,  but  he  seems  nervous  and  shy  upon  the  subject." 

Now  it  may  be  safely  asserted  that  no  such  letter  was  ever 
written  by  Moore  to  Power,  from  the  perfect  sequence  of  six  let- 
ters written  by  the  former  in  March,  and  all  at  present  before  me- 
Moore  writes  in  his  Diary  between  the  1st  and  24th  March : 

"Meant  to  have  timed  my  visit  to  town  (the  chief  object  of 
which  is  the  settlement  of  my  accounts  with  Power)  so  as  to 
be  in  town  to  attend  St.  Patrick's  dinner." 

And  that  was  his  true  object,  and  then  and  there  to  have 
announced  himself  as  the  candidate  for  the  representation  of 
Limerick,  as  appears  by  Moore's  letter  to  Power  of  14th  March  : 

"  I  have  had  no  formal  requisition  yet  from  Limerick,  but  I 
rather  think  they  mean  to  tempt  me.  What  they  propose  is,  a 
subscription  among  the  women  of  Ireland  for  the  purpose,  which 
would  certainly  be  a  very  pretty  way  of  doing  the  thing." 

Here  it  should  be  observed,  that  Mr.  Power  had  not  then 
received  Mr.  (now  Sir  Henry  11.)  Bishop's  account  for  musical 
arrangement,  part  of  which  had  to  be  charged  against  Mr.  Moore. 
This,  Mr.  Power  distinctly  told  Mr.  Moore  in  my  presence,  on 
the  5th  April,  saying  at  the  same  time :  "  I  fear,  Mr.  Moore,  it 
may  be  more  than  cither  of  us  expect."  Moore  observed,  that 
he  did  not  care  much  about  that,  and  inquired  what  was  some- 


INTRODUCTORY  LETTER.  xi 

tiling  like  the  actual  amount  of  his  debt  ?  Mr.  Power's  reply  was  : 
"Why,  I  should  say  something  about  £500."  Moore's  light- 
hearted  remark  was,  "  I  can  soon  arrange  that."  And  Mr.  Power's 
respectful  comment,  "  Certainly,  Mr.  Moore,  when  you  please." 

There  had  evidently  been  a  misunderstanding  of  some  kind 
between  Mr.  Power  and  Moore,  before  this  meeting  at  which  I 
was  present,  for  on  seeing  Moore  come  into  his  shop,  Mr.  Power 
said  to  me  in  the  back  counting-house,  where  I  happened  to  be 
chatting  with  him :  "  Don't  go,  Mr.  Croker ;  you  may  as  well 
hear  all  about  this  bubble  Limerick  affair" — referring  to  Moore's 
letter  of  the  14th  March ;  and  I  know  that  Mr.  Power  considered 
it  to  be  a  very  silly  speculation  on  Moore's  part,  and  that  if 
he  entered  Parliament,  his  mind  would  be  taken  off  from  literary 
employment,  which  would  probably  plunge  him  into  irretrievable 
difficulties. 

On  the  29th,  or  in  about  three  weeks  after  this  conversation  upon 
the  account  current  between  them,  which  extended  over  the  space 
of  fourteen  years,  (from  1818  to  1832.)  Moore  chronicles  in  his 
Diary  that  he  received  these  long-standing  accounts  from  Mr. 
Power ;  but  he  adds — 

"  Being  busy,  however,  did  not  look  into  them  till — 
'■'■May  1st. — Glanced  my  eye  hastily  over  the  balance  against 
me,  [which  it  may  be  stated,  was  £534  :  0  :  10,]  and  was  some- 
what startled  by  its  amount ;  but  on  looking  through  some  of  the 
items,  saw  such  regularity  and  (as  I  thought)  fairness  in  them, 
that  I  concluded  all  was  right,  and  wrote  to  Power  to  say  so, 
adding  in  my  simplicity,  that  I  flattered  myself,  never  were  ac- 
counts of  so  long  a  standing  settled  so  smoothly  and  amicably  as 
ours  would  be." 

The  actual  words  of  Mr.  Moore's  letter  of  2d  May,  1832,  to 
Mr.  Power,  are — 

"  The  state  of  our  account  is  pretty  much  what  I  expected, 
and  nothing  could  be  kept  more  correctly  and  regularly ;  though 
I  knew  the  balance  would  be  about  what  it  is,  the  sight  of  it  in 
figures  startles  me;  I  must,  however,  work  to  get  it  down." 


xii  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

The  entries  made  in  Moore's  Diary  under  date  4th  and  6  th 
May,  contain  serious  charges  against  Power,  and  what  is  infinitely 
worse,  a  suppressed  passage  indicated  by     *        '■■'  from  the 

Editor,  (who  thereby,  not  having  been  over  scrupulous  about 
what  he  had  before  published.)  leaves  the  worst  to  the  imagi- 
nation. It  is  necessary  for  me  to  quote  the  passages  at  length, 
with  a  view  to  their  perfect  refutation,  except  where  no  clue  has 
been  afforded  to  what  Moore  might  have  called  "  the  starry  mind" 
of  his  Editor ;  for  poor  Moore  had  long  before  sent  his  good 
genius  (typified  by  the  common  sense  of  Power)  wandering 
upon  a  moonlight  night,  to  get  on  as  well  as  he  could.  Pro- 
phetically did  Moore  write  of  his  evil  genius,  who  plunges  into 
the  torrent  as  he 

— "  idly  gazed 

On  each  night — cloud  o'er  him  : 
"While  I  touch  the  string, 

Wreathe  my  brows  with  laurel ; 
For  the  tale  I  sing 

Has,  for  once,  a  moral." 

which  moral  should  be,  in  my  opinion,  the  correction  of  the  wish 
expressed  in  Moore's  Diary,  (vol  ii.,  p.  151,)  that  "eveiy  literary 
man  would  write  his  own  memoirs,"  into,  "  Iwish  no  literary  man 
would  write  his  own  memoirs,  and  in  an  evil  hour  leave  it  in  the 
power  of  genius  to  unmask  his  character  and  destroy  all  respect  for 
it."  Sooner  let  such  cold-hearted  genius  shiver  and  perish  on 
the  muddy  bank  of  the  stream  of  Time. 

"May  4th. — Took  the  opportunity  of  a  leisure  moment  to  look 
more  accurately  over  Power's  accounts,  and  found,  to  my  con- 
sternation, that  they  are  any  thing  but  what  I  had  supposed.  . 
.  .  Wrote  to  him  that  in  looking  over  his  accounts,  I  had  found 
what  must,  I  thought,  be  a  mistake ;  namely,  his  charges  against 
me  during  several  years  for  the  (£125)  of  an  annuity  which,  it 
appears  lie  paid  to  Mr.  Bishop,  and  the  whole  of  the  large  sums 
charged  by  Mr.  Bishop  for  the  compositions  and  arrangements  to 
my  songs ;  that  it  was  very  true  I  had  assented  to  a  deduction  of 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  xiii 

£50  annually  from  the  £500  that  had  been  for  some  years  paid 
to  me,  as  an  aid  towards  defraying  the  expense  of  the  composer, 
but  that  I  had  never,  by  word  or  writing,  consented  to  any  fur- 
ther reduction  of  my  stipulated  annuity,  nor  had  he  himself  ever 
even  hinted  to  me  his  intention  of  making  such  a  reduction,  and 
therefore  his  bringing  such  charges  against  me  now  must  be  an 
entire  mistake." 

"  6th. — A  smooth  answer  from  Power,  saying  that  it  was  no 
mistake ;  that  having  informed  me  at  the  time  what  was  the  an- 
nuity he  was  about  to  give  Bishop,  he  '  concluded '  that  I  would 
not  consider  it  too  much  to  pay  the  half  of  it.  'Concluded,'' 
indeed  !  Not  the  slightest  notice  does  he  take  of  the  actual  fact 
that  I  never  assented,  in  word  or  writing,  to  any  other  reduction 
of  my  annuity  than  £50,  which  was  agreed  on  between  us.  In- 
stead of  which,  he  has  now  mounted  up  charges  little  short  of 
£150  to  £200  each  year." 

This  assertion  on  the  part  of  Moore  is  not  correct.  While  he 
declaims  like  Shy  lock,  "I  will  have  my  bond"  Mr.  Power  mod- 
estly plead  "lex  Mercatoris"  —  established  custom  and  "silence 
gives  consent." 

The  facts  may  be  briefly  summed  up.  Moore,  after  fourteen 
years  of  procrastination  in  facing  pecuniary  difficulties,  through 
which  Power  helped  him  to  flounder  creditably,  takes  courage  to 
look  into  them,  after  three  days'  consideration.  He  then  fancies 
that  he  discovers  an  improper  charge  in  the  long-standing-over 
accounts,  by  an  annual  payment  made  to  Bishop  for  doing  what 
Moore  himself  was  unable  to  peiform,  or  at  least  did  not  do; 
namely,  the  arrangement  of  the  symphonies  and  accompany- 
ments  to  his  words  and  preparing  the  music  for  press.  Upon  all 
these  points,  Moore  was  exceedingly  particular. 

On  the  6th,  or  in  due  course,  Moore  receives  a  "  common  sense" 
letter — what  he  calls  "  a  smooth  answer  from  Power,"  saying 
that  there  was  no  mistake  in  his  accounts.  Nor  was  there  any. 
At  which  Moore,  who  further  fancies  himself  seated  as  M.  P.  for 
Limerick,  with  a  landed  qualification  from  the  beautiful  lips  of 
Ireland,  becomes    indignant,  and  directly  changes  his    tone   of 


xiv  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

address  towards  a  tradesman  in  the  Strand  from  "My  dear  Sir" 
into  "Dear  Sir." 

From  May  to  October,  a  correspondence  occurs  between  Moore 
and  Mr.  Power  which  I  have  been  permitted  to  see — at  least,  the 
letters  of  the  former.  It  is  not  of  an  agreeable  character,  as 
Moore  appears  to  identify  himself  with  bis  hero,  Tom  Cribb,  and 
commences  sparring  at  Power  and  his  (common-sense  genius's) 
power  over  a  literary  man,  whose  head  has  been  turned  by  the 
offer  of  £500  a  year  from  Marryat,  (Memoirs,  vol.  vi.  p.  275,) 
and  a  thousand  guineas  from  Harding,  (vol.  v.  p.  269,)  not  ten 
weeks  previously,  with  the  prospect  of  writing  M.  P.  after  his 
name  as  representative  of  indignant  "Limerick  of  the  treaty"  or 
"  Cashel  of  Minister."  Let  me  pass  over  all  this  as  briefly  as 
possible  ;  which  might  have  turned  astray  from  the  path  of  honor 
and  duty  a  less  imaginative  head  than  was  elevated  by  nature  or 
education  upon  the  shoulders  of  Thomas  Moore. 

Moore  candidly  acknowledges  that  he  is  by  no  means  insensible 
to  Mr.  Power's  courtesies  "  in  not  pressing  rigidly  the  '  due  per- 
formance' of  our  deed."  "  But  allow  me,  he  proceeds,  "  to  remind 
you  that  I  have  so  far  gone  beyond  what  I  engaged  to  perform, 
as  in  two  instances,  instead  of  confining  myself  to  the  stipulated 
number  of  songs,  to  have  given  you  poems  of  considerable  length, 
ralludinff  to  the  "Summer  Fete"  and  "Evenings  in  Greece,] 
which,  whatever  may  be  the  success  or  failure  of  the  name  con- 
nected with  them,  will,  as  you  well  know,  be  properly,  as  literary 
works,  so  long  as  any  thing  I  have  ever  written  shall  endure." 

What  a  specimen  of  a  head  inflated  with  the  intoxicating  gas 
of  vanity  !  and  so  "  up  it  goes,"  soaring  through  a  cloud  of 
mystification  in  the  following  passage,  to  the  eyes  of  any  reason- 
able publisher  of  modern  times,  who  at  this  period  was  sustaining 
heavy  losses  by  the  publication  of  Mr.  Moore's  works.  In  fact, 
to  nearly  such  an  extent  had  Mr.  Power  experienced  losses 
through  Mr.  Moore's  reckless  conduct,  that  Power,  after  he  him- 
self had  put  up  the  shutters  of  his  shop  in  the  Strand,  lamented 
to  me  Mr.  Moore's  speculative  ideas,  and  said  (literally  "  with 
tears    in    his    eyes,")    to   use    Moore's   words,    that   he    feared 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  XV 

he  should  be  ruined  by  them.  He  only  desired  to  have  more 
Irish  Melodies,  which  he  could  sell,  and  not  poetry,  brought  out 
in  an  expensive  form  which  remained  on  his  shelves.  "  For,"  said 
he,  "  '  Butterfly  Balls,'  like  the  'Summer  Fete  '  and  slow  '  Eve- 
nings in  Greece,'  are  heavy  works  to  publish  with  scarcely  an 
expectation  of  the  expense  of  the  production  being  repaid.  I  do 
not  want  such  literary  efforts.  I  want  Irish  Melodies  or  simple 
ballads,  (like  the  Woodpecker  Tapping  or  Canadian  Boat  Song,) 
which  will  sell  and  leave  me  a  profit  to  enable  me  to  pay  Mr. 
Moore  his  annuity  under  our  deed."  These  were  Mr.  Power's 
words ;  how  different  was  Moore's  estimate  of  his  own  value  in 
the  market ! 

"  Had  you,"  be  writes,  "  taken  into  consideration  this  extra 
effort  of  mine,  and  added  totny  remuneration  [what  charming  sim- 
plicity!]  in  consequence,  I  should  undoubtedly  have  thought  such 
an  act  liberal ;  but  from  the  language  I  have  always  heard  you  hold 
on  such  points,  I  should  not  have  been  surprised  at  it.  When,  on 
the  contrary,  however,  I  find  the  very  reverse  of  all  this  has 
taken  place — when  I  find  that,  knowing  as  you  do  the  sums  of 
money  I  can  command  for  my  writings,  and  that  I  have  at  this 
very  moment  the  offer  of  a  thousand  pounds  for  a  poem  not 
longer  than  the  Summer  Fete — when  I  see  that,  knowing  all  this, 
you  yet  think  it  'equitable'  to  reduce  by  charges  (none  of  them 
before  announced  or  specified  to  me)  the  sum  that  in  bare  justice 
I  should  have  had  for  the  poems,  to  a  pittance  of  not  so  much 
as  four  hundred  pounds  each — I  confess  that  I  am  surprised,  and 
that  a  new  view  of  your  notions  of  '  equitableness '  breaks  in 
upon  me,  of  which  I  had  before  no  conception.  In  truth,  you 
could  not  have  had  a  stronger  proof  of  my  entire  reliance  on  your 
fairness  than  my  writing  off  to  say  I  was  perfectly  satisfied  with 
your  account,  when  I  had  not,  I  am  ashamed  to  say,  done  more 
than  glance  at  a  few  items  of  it." 

Moore,  having  worked  himself  up  into  a  heat,  determines  to 
come  down  from  his  elevation  as  coolly  as  he  can,  practically 
illustrating  Curran's  famous  joke  about  Kouli  Khan,  after  having 
spoiled   in  his   Diary  some  of  Curran's   best    Irish   pleasantries 


XVI  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

with  those  of  other  wits,  which  the  honorable  editor  considers 
not  only  worthy  of  being  retained,  but  of  explanation! 

"As  I  have  here,"  concludes  Mr.  Moore  to  Mr.  Power,  "stated 
to  you  quietly  all  that  1  think  on  this  matter,  (what  I  feel  would 
take  far  other  language  to  express  it,)  this  is  the  last  letter  I  shall 
think  it  necessary  to  write  on  the  subject.  I  shall  proceed,  at 
my  leisure,  to  finish  such  things  as  are  incomplete,  and  shall  for- 
ward them  to  you  as  I  do  them. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"Thomas  Moore." 

The  extracts   frcm   this   letter  appear  !o  le  very  cool  indeed 
"  Proceed  at  my  leisure"  to  pay  off  a  debt  of  a  thousand  pounds 
to  a  tradesman,  Avho  holds  no  security  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promise !     In  the  first  place,  Mr.  Power  did  not  want  from  Mr. 
Moorelong  poems  elaborately  constructed.    He  wanted  only  simple 
melodies,  or  ballads,  likely  to  become  popular.     For  the  former 
he  had,  comparatively  speaking,  no  sale ;  for  the  latter,  an  ex- 
tensive one ;  perhaps  at  the  time,  the  most  extensive   sale   for 
works  of  this  class  of  any  music  publisher  in  London.     A  single 
song,  if  it  became  popular,  was  a  property  ;  if  a  failure,  or  it  did 
not  sell,  a  loss  of  no  great  consequence ;  but  Moore,  who  from  his 
cradle  to  his  grave  was  an  actor,  felt  ambitious  that  he  or  hi* 
work  should  monopolize  the  attention  of  an  audience  for  a  whol 
evening,  and    hence  the  operatic  construction  of   his   "Summer 
Fete"  and  "  Evenings  in  Greece,"  intended  for  the  drawing-room- 
But  he  forgot  to  inquire  where  the  actors  were  to  be  found  in 
private  circles,  whose  performance,  after  being   once  or   twice 
listened  to  with  indulgence,  any  intellectual  drawing-room  assem- 
bly would  for  hours  endure  the  repetition  of.     The  sale  of  both 
works  was  consequently  limited,  and  the  production  of  Mr.  Moore's 
long  poems  connected  with  music,  however  he  might  have  esti- 
mated their  value,  proved  to  be   any  thing   but  of  advantage  to 
the  publisher. 

Moore  has  the  grace  to  acknowledge  Mr.  Power's  forbearance 
with  respect  to  "our  deed."     He  then  proceeds,  without  further 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  Xvii 

reference  to  the  matter,  to  laud  his  own  liberality,  by  which  Mr. 
Power  was  so  serious  a  loser,  and  therefore  asks — indeed,  nearly 
demands  — an  increase  of  pay  upon  what  already  must  be  considered 
a  most  liberal  stipend.  This  is  cool.  Moore  next  goes  on  to  insult 
Mr.  Power  by  the  mention  of  "a  pittance"  of  not  so  much  as 
£800  for  superfluous  matter  under  "our  deed,"  by  which  no  super- 
fluous matter  was  required,  and  being  then  in  Mr,  Power's  debt 
upwards  of  £500  under  that  deed.  Now  for  the  cool  finale  :  Moore 
winds  up  by  a  statement  to  his  best  benefactor  and  steady  friend 
in  his  difficulties  and  emergencies,  that  he  shall  proceed  at  leisure 
to  pay  off  this  little  debt,  by  completing  work  that  ought  to  have 
been  long  before  performed  and  delivered.  The  bad  taste,  and 
worse  feeling,  of  ingratitude  displayed  in  this  letter,  attempting  to 
vindicate  a  breach  of  contract,  or  rather  breaches  of  contract,  re- 
quire no  comment  here. 

So  long  previous  to  this  as  the  26th  November,  1818,  Moore 
mentions  in  his  Diary  having  "  called  upon  Power,  and  mustered 
up  courage  enough  to  tell  him,  that  I  could  not  take  less  than 
the  clear  £500  a  year  in  our  future  agreement,  without  any  de- 
ductions, such  as  had  been  made  before  for  the  arrangement  of  my 
music  :  left  him  to  consider  of  it."  And  so  was  off  for  Holland 
House.  On  the  24th  January,  1819,  Power  arrives  at  Sloperton 
Cottage,  and  acquaints  Moore  that  Bishop  is  the  person  he  thinks 
of  for  arranging  Moore's  music  in  future,  who,  next  to  Stevenson, 
Moore  prefers.  On  the  following  morning  they  enter  into  the 
business  of  the  renewal  of  their  agreement.  "  He  [Power]  at 
first  did  not  seem  quite  willing  to  consent  to  giving  the  full  £500 
a  year,  but  expressed  something  like  a  hope  that  I  would  contri- 
bute towards  paying  the  arranger  of  the  music.  However,  on 
my  saying  it  would  be  better,  perhaps,  to  let  the  whole  matter 
lie  over  till  some  other  time,  he  professed  himself  quite  ready  to 
come  into  my  terms.  I  accordingly  signed  the  draught  of  a  deed 
he  had  brought  with  him  for  a  clear  £500,  and  then  told  him  he 
might  be  very  sure  I  would  not  allow  it  to  press  heavily  upon  him  ; 
as,  though  I  wished  to  gain  my  point  of  having  the  round  sum  of 
£500,  (without  the  deduction  of  £50,  which  he  had  before  made 


XVlll  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

for  arranging,^  yet,  if  he  found  Bishop's  terms  for  undertaking  the 
musical  part  at  all  extravagant,  I  should  not  be  backward  in 
giving  my  former  share  towards  the  expense.*  Two  or  three 
things  he.  said  during  our  conversation  annoyed  me  a  good  deal; 
among  others,  when  I  proposed  that  if  he  felt  any  dislike  to 
a  renewal  of  t lie  agreement,  (which  I  was  not  at  all  anxious  for,) 
I  might  remain  free,  and  merely  give  him  the  preference  in  the 
purchase  of  any  thing  1  wrote,  he  said :  '  You  know,  as  to  that,  I 
might  constrain  you  to  give  them  to  me,  as  I  have  your  promise 
in  one  of  your  letters  to  go  on  to  a  tenth  number  of  "  Irish  Melo- 
dies" with  me.'  This  readiness  to  take  advantage  of  a  mere  castle- 
building  promise,  made  in  the  confidential  carelessness  of  a  letter, 
did  not  look  well ;  however,  upon  my  saying  as  much,  he  dis- 
claimed all  such  intention,  and  said  I  should  never  find  him  other 
than  he  had  been." 

Here  Moore  records  the  most  perfect  justification  of  Mr. 
Power's  conduct  that  can  be  conceived,  and  stultifies  himself  sub- 
sequent^. 

Moore  being  aware  that  Power  was  particularly  anxious  to  have, 
instead  of  unsalable  songs  or  poetry,  the  final  or  tenth  number  of 
the  Irish  Melodies,  which  the  poet  had  most  unjustifiably  withheld, 
on  the  plea  of  the  want  of  suitable  airs,  for  no  less  than  twelve  years, 
(1818-1830,)  having  acknowledged  in  a  note  upon  the  advertise- 
ment to  the  seventh  number  of  that  national  work,  the  receipt  from 
myself  alone  of  "  nearly  forty  ancient  airs" — to  some  of  which  he 
has  written  words,  as  have  also  Lover  and  Bayley  most  accepta- 
bly ;  and  feeling  that  his  former  letter  had  not  induced  "  Honest 
James  Power"  to  alter  his  accounts,  assumes  another  attitude,  and 
threatens  again,  on  the  1st  August,  1832,  in  a  change  of  tone  : 

"  With  respect  to  a  future  number  (or  numbers,  for  my  stock 
of  airs  is  now  considerable)  of  Irish  Melodies,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  talk  on  that  subject  when  our  jircscnt  accounts  are  set- 
tled to  my  satisfaction." 


*  Viz. :  half.     Sir   John  Stevenson's  charge  was  £100.     Sir  Henry  R. 
Bishop's,  £250. 


INTRODUCTORY    LETTER.  XIX 

And  the  speculative  character  of  Moore  referred  to,  is  illustrated 
by  the  following  P.  S.  to  this  letter  : 

"Among  the  things  I  left  in  your  hands  in  contemplation  of  a 
Miscellany,  (now  long  since  given  up,)  there  are,  I  believe  two 
or  three  translations  from  Catullus  which  I  wish  you  to  send  me." 

Mr.  Power,  in  a  conscious  feeling  of  rectitude,  stood  firm  to  his 
accounts.  And  so  Moore's  tone  becomes  more  subdued.  On  the 
20th  of  August,  when  returning  some  proof-sheets,  he  writes  to 
Mr.  Power :  "We  shall  be  very  glad  to  see  you  whenever  you  may 
find  it  convenient  to  come ;  but  I  must  repeat  that  until  the  very 
extraordinary  account  you  have  made  out  against  me  shall  have 
been  settled  between  us,  my  agreeing  to  undertake  any  new  work 
for  you  is  wholly  out  of  the  question.  Your  note  leads  me  to 
hope  that  a  satisfactory  settlement  will  take  place,  in  which  case 
you  will  find  me  most  ready  to  resume  a  connection,  the  interrup- 
tion of  which  has,  I  feel,  arisen   from   no   fault   or  default  of 

mine." 

It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  pursue  this  correspondence  further, 
or  to  comment  upon  the  last  sentence  quoted  as  coming  from  the 
pen  of  one  who  had  been,  whether  owing  to  his  own  fault  or  the 
fault  of  others,  a  defaulter  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  his 
life.  That  unjust  feelings  of  hostility  were  rankling  against  Mr. 
Power  in  the  breast  of  Moore,  is  evident  from  his  Diary,  as  most 
inexcusably  published  by  Lord  John  Russell,  to  whom  the  oppor- 
tunity of  knowing  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case  had  been 
afforded. 

In  the  October  subsequent  to  August,  1832,  Moore  came  to 
London,  where,  after  nearly  a  week's  disporting  himself,  he  falls 
in  with  the  poet  Campbell,  and  takes  him  as  a  kind  of  witness  to  call 
at  Power's,  heartlessly  recording  respecting  his  best,  his  steadiest, 
and  most  sincere  friend — "  My  first  visit  to  that  gentleman  since  ] 
have  been  in  town."  Moore,  however,  had  called  at  the  shop  of 
"that  gentleman"  on  the  previous  day,  when  he  learned  that  Mr. 
Power  was  confined  to  his  bed  at  his  private  residence  by  illness ; 
and  yet,  though  that  private  residence  was  not  one  minute's  walk, 
(from  34  Strand  to  22  Buckingham  street,)  that  minute  appears 


XX  INTRODUCTORY    LETTER. 

to  have  been  so  precious  to  the  flutter  of  Mr.  Moore  through  the 
metropolis,  as  not  to  allow  him  time  to  perform  the  ordinary  act 
of  courtesy  from  a  "  gentleman"  towards  a  tradesman,  by  inquiring 
after  Mr.  Power  and  leaving  his  card.  If  a  Lord  had  been  in  the 
case,  Moore's  conduct  would  probably  have  been  very  different. 

The  14th  of  October  appears  to  have  been  the  day  of  Moore's 
call  at  the  shop,  and  whether  Mr.  Power  was  found  there  or  in  his 
bed-room  by  Messrs.  Moore  and  Campbell,  cannot  be  decidedly 
stated  from  the  Diary  of  the  former.  However,  they  "  staid  but 
a  few  minutes." 

The  shop  was  that  in  which  Moore  had  formerly  been  so  anxious 
to  be  admitted  as  a  junior  partner;  and  he  probably  might  have 
been  so,  had  not  the  sagacity  of  James  Power  foreseen  that  habits 
so  vainglorious,  so  reckless  and  unbusiness-like  as  those  of  Moore, 
would  soon  have  ruined  the  concern.  Had  the  partnership  taken 
place,  which  luckily  for  Mr.  Power  it  did  not,  it  is  impossible  to 
conceive  a  more  unsatisfactory  or  vexatious  partner  than  Moore 
would  have  proved  himself  to  be,  notwithstanding  the  poet's  pro- 
mise to  put  annually  a  thousand  pounds'  worth  of  brains  into  the . 
stock,  instead  of  subtracting  £500  from  it. 

Moore's  Diary,  if  closely  tested  by  dates,  facts,  and  circum- 
stances, exhibits  the  most  lamentable  confusion  of  mind  and 
memory.  But  I  am  not  going  to  revert  to  melancholy  recollections, 
nor  to  enter  into  too  minute  particulars  to  prove  this ;  on  the  con- 
trary, I  would,  if  I  could,  appear  as  Moore's  friendly  apologist. 

Let  us  now  enter  a  new  year,  (1833,)  upon  which  dawns  the 
hope  of  a  reconciliation  between  Moore  and  Power.  The  latter, 
however,  still  maintains  the  correctness  of  his  accounts,  and  the 
year  opens  gloomily  enough  upon  poor  Moore.  The  supplies  are 
stopped  from  that  quarter  and  another  source,  (a  periodical  edited 
by  Captain  Marryat.)  Neither  Harding's  £1,000  nor  Heath's 
£1,000  were  forthcoming,  and  on  the  1st  of  January  Moore  makes 
the  following  entry  in  his  Diary :  "  Had  been  for  some  days  in 
correspondence  with  Lardner  respecting  my  Irish  History,  which 
I  am  now  about  to  resume  in  earnest ;  and  my  resources  from 
Power  no  longer  going  on,  and  my  supplies  from  the  '  Metropo- 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  XXI 

litan'  being  now  at  an  end,  I  found  it  necessary  to  request  of  him 
an  advance  of  money  on  the  work." 

Of  course.  So,  on  the  17th  February,  Moore  writes  to  his 
"  Dear  Sir"  the  following  note,  in  which,  however  attempted  to 
be  disguised,  the  cringing  feelings  of  a  subdued  spirit,  unwill- 
ing to  acknowledge  itself  to  be  in  the  wrong,  peep  out  in 
every  sentence.  Moore,  who,  on  the  13th  of  the  previous  Oc- 
tober, could  not  afford  one  minute  to  inquire  personally  after 
Mr.  Power's  health,  now  commences,  "  I  am  very  glad  to  hear 
that  you  are  so  much  better.  I  have  been,  indeed,  for  some  days 
past  intending  to  write  to  you  to  say  that  I  expected  to  be  up  in 
town  about  the  beginning  of  next  week,  and  that  I  look  to  our 
then  settling  our  accounts  satisfactorily.  All  I  shall  now  say  of 
them  is  that,  as  they  stand  at  present,  they  exhibit  an  instance  of 
sharp  dealing  (to  give  it  no  harsher  name)  which  exceeds  all  I 
have  ever  experienced  in  my  connection  with  men  of  business,  and 
in  comparison  with  which  all  you  have  sometimes  heard  me 
complain  of  from  your  brother  and  from  Carpenter*  not  only 
fades  into  insignificance,  but  actually  appears  fair  and  liberal. 
Having  thus,  once  for  all,  expressed  my  opinion  of  the  present 
state  of  the  transaction  between  us,  I  shall  not  write  or  utter 
another  harsh  word  on  the  subject  till  I  shall  have  seen  whether 
vou  yourself  consider  the  matter  in  the  way  that  is  alone  worthy 
of  you,  and  about  which,  believe  me,  there  could  not  be  two  opi- 
nions among  men  of  fair  and  honorable  minds." 

Here  let  me  interrupt  the  current  of  this  letter  by  observing 
that  there  certainly  were  "not  two  opinions  among  men  of  fair 
and  honorable  minds  ;"  so  far  Moore  was  right,  but  their  opinion 
was  adverse  to  Moore's  judgment.  He  thus  continues  to  Mr. 
Power : 


*  And  yet  Moore's  statement  (22d  September,  1803)  with  regard  to  Car- 
penter, is,  (Vol.  I.  p.  135  :)  "  My  dear  father  should  write  to  Carpenter, 
and  thank  him  for  the  very  friendly  assistance  he  has  given  me.  Without 
that  assistance  the  breeze  would  be  fair  in  vain  for  me,  and  Bermuda  might 
be  sunk  in  the  deep,  for  any  share  that  I  could  pretend  to  in  it,"  &c. 


XXii  INTRODUCTORY    LETTER. 

"  I  need  not  tell  you  (for  I  have  often  repeated  it  to  you)  that  it 
has  always  been  my  intention  to  goon  with  you  as  my  publisher, 
as  long  as  I  cared  to  write  or  as  you  cared  to  publish  what  I 
wrote.  But  this  intention  was  of  course  founded  upon  my  confi- 
dence that  you  would  go  on  as  you  commenced,  and  not 

but  I  have  said  that  I  would  not  any  more  give  way  to  what  I 
feel  on  the  subject,  nor  will  I. 

"  I  have  two  works  already  on  the  anvil — the  tenth  number  of 

the  Irish  Melodies,  and  a  collection  from  the  Latin  Anthology. 

In  the  warm  hope  that  all  will  yet  be  right  between  us,  I  again 

sign  myself 

Very  truly  yours, 

Thomas  Moore. 

On  Wednesday,  the  6th  March,  Moore  arrives  in  town,  but 
professes  to  be  so  much  engaged  (his  Diary  will  show  how)  that  he 
can  only  admit  Mr.Power,  whose  purse  is  really  of  so  much  conse- 
quence to  him,  to  an  audience  after  Sunday,  and  then  only  by 
special  appointment.  "  I  have  every  hope,"  writes  Mr.  Moore, 
"  that  we  shall  come  to  an  amicable  understanding  together." 
But  he  still  doggedly  continues  to  assert  that  Mr.  Power  and  his 
accounts  are  wrong,  and  that  he  should  have  paid  him  £100  a 
year  more  than  he  was  fairly  entitled  to,  (as  the  sequel  will  show,) 
or  at  the  clear  rate  of  £450,  if  not  £500  per  annum.  He  strongly 
urges  this  conclusion  upon  Mr.  Power,  as  it  would  "  at  once 
place  us  where  we  were,  both  in  friendship  and  business."  Then 
comes  the  threat :  "  If,  however,  you  should  unfortunately  persist 
in  your  oivn  view  of  the  transaction,  I  must  then  only  consult 
with  my  friends  (of  whom  but  one  at  present  knows  any  thing 
about  the  matter)  as  to  what  steps  I  had  best  take."  On  the 
17th  March,  (an  ominous  day  when  Irish  harmony  is  in  question,) 
Moore  evidently  becomes  uneasy  at  what  he  regards  to  be  Mr. 
Power's  obstinacy,  and,  coupled  with  a  request  to  send  a  copy  of 
the  letter-press  of  the  Irish  Melodies  to  Mr.  O'Conncll,  "  as  he  is 
in  want  of  some  mottoes  for  his  letters  from  them,"  goes  so  far  as 
to  admit  that  "  it  is  just  possible  thai  in  a  haziness  point  of  view" 
he  may  be  mistaken,  and  purposes  (o  leave  their  differences  to 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  XX111 

arbitration,  naming  either  Mr.  Longman  or  Mr.  Rogers  on  his  part, 
or  leaving  Mr.  Power  to  name  both  arbitrators.  To  this  propo- 
sal Mr.  Power  promptly  assented,  as  well  as  to  both  the  arbitra- 
tors named  by  Moore  ;  but  instead  of  Mr.  Longman,  his  partner, 
Mr.  Rees,  agreed  to  act  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Power. 

To  save  his  time,  Mr.  Power  left  with  Mr.  Rees  documents  upon 
which  the  arbitration  was  to  be  founded,  to  look  over;  and  ac- 
cording to  Moore's  statement,  both  Messrs.  Longman  and  Rees 
said  that  Power  "  had  not,  as  they  expressed  it,  '  a  leg  to  stand 
on ;' "  and  adds  Mr.  Moore  in  his  Diary — "  In  consequence  of 
finding  the  case  so  bad,  it  was  Rees's  intention  to  decline  being 
arbitrator;  but  I  suggested  it  would  be  advisable  to  state  at  the 
same  time  his  reasons  for  so  declining,  as  it  might  have  the  effect 
of  making  Power  think  a  little  more  seriously  on  the  subject." 

Now  this  suggestion  as  recorded  by  himself,  with  a  view  to 
prejudice  an  arbitration,  was  not  only  impertinent,  but  most 
improper  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Moore.  The  fact,  however,  is  the  very 
revei-se  of  what  Moore  has  stated  in  his  Diary,  and  that  after 
looking  over  the  documents  confided  by  Mr.  Power  to  Mr.  Rees, 
the  latter  said  that  he  "must  decline  to  act  ia  the  matter,  as  Mr. 
Moore  had  not  a  leg  to  stand  upon  !"  and  that  it  would  be  pain- 
ful for  him  to  urge  an  adverse  decision  upon  any  claim,  however 
fanciful,  set  up  by  Mr.  Moore,  considering  his  connection  with  the 
publishing-house  in  which,  he  (Mr.  Rees)  was  a  partner. 

On  the  27th  March,  Mr.  Moore  told  Mr.  Rogers  that  Mr.  Rees 
had  declined  acting  as  an  arbitrator,  adding  :  "  Nothing,  Rogers 
thought,  could  be  more  injudicious  and  mischievous  to  me  than 
this  step.  Rees  ought  to  have  refused  looking  at  my  papers  till 
they  were  laid  before  him  and  Rogers  together,  when  they  might 
have  secured  a  settlement ;  but  now,  by  defeating  thus  the  pros- 
pect of  an  amicable  arrangement,  he  has  thrown  the  whole  thing 
adrift,  and  left  no  other  alternative  but  law.  This  I  felt  to  be 
but  too  true.     *     *     *" 

What  do  these  *  *  *  mean?  is  not  an  unfair  question; 
and  "  my  papers  ?"  What ! — an  advocate  not  look  over  his  client's 
brief  before  he  went  into  court  to  plead  his  cause  ?     Certainty 


XXIV  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

such  things  have  occurred,  but  Mr.  Kees  was  not  a  member  of 

the  bar, 

'•  Who  would  by  every  commonplace 
Make  wrong  the  right  or  better  case." 

No  ;  he  was  like  Mr.  Power  himself,  a  plain  spoken,  fair-dealing 
tradesman,  who  lived  respected  and  died  regretted. 

"My  papers,"  indeed  !  why,  Mr.  Moore's  own  Diary,  on  the 
very  opposite  page,  without  one  word  as  to  his  verbal  ex  parte 
statements,  shows  "that  Power  had  been  with  Rees  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  left  him  our  deeds  of  agreement  and  some  extracts 
from  my  letters  to  look  over."  I  should  like  to  know  what  title 
Mr.  Moore  had  to  call  these  documents  his  papers! — papers  to 
be  considered  in  an  issue  between  Moore  versus  Power,  and  to  be 
merely  used  in  self-defence  by  the  latter,  from  the  accusation  of 
an  overcharge  of  £500  in  his  accounts  ! 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1833,  Moore  records  in  his  Diary,  "  Visit 
from  Power ;"  adding,  that  he  "  was  soon  made  sensible  of  the 
great  injury  Rees  had  done  me  by  declining  the  arbitration,  and 
declining  it,  too,  in  such  a  way  as  to  leave  Power  still  under  the 
impression  that  there  was  nothing  beyond  the  mere  ordinaty 
course  of  business  in  his  conduct  to  me.     *     *     *  " 

Here  these  mysterious  and  mischievous  inuendoes  occur  again. 
If  the  passage  was  worth  giving  at  all,  why  leave  its  meaning 
doubtful?  Why  should  not  an  editorial  note  abiidge  or  explain 
the  circumstances — the  result  of  the  interview,  or  that  the  MS 
was  torn  or  blotted,  or  could  not  be  deciphered  ?  No,  it  stands 
as  left  by  the  hand  of  Lord  John  Russell,  a  worse  than  "  malig- 
nant" attack — an  unexplained  insinuation  against  the  conduct  of 
Moore's  steadiest  and  unveering  friend,  "Honest  James  Power." 

If  Mr.  Rees  had  told  Mr.  Power  that  he  "  had  not  a  leg  to 
stand  upon,"  (as  asserted  by  Mr.  Moore,)  why  should  Power  have 
run  himself  into  the  risk  of  threatened  law  proceedings  ?  He  had 
already  suffered  severely  in  pocket  from  Moore's  duplicity  by  law 
charges.  And  the  effect  of  this  proposed  arbitration  having  so 
far  failed  by  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Rees,  it  was  determined  that 
another  arbitrator  should  be  named  in  his  place  with  Mr.  Rogers, 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  XXV 

and  tbat  if  I  would  accept  the  unpleasant  office,  I  was  to  be  the 
party  to  act  for  Mr.  Power :  but  circumstances  prevented  our 
arbitration  taking  place  ;  and  I  will  here  only  venture  to  repeat 
that  Mr.  Rees's  opinion  was,  that  "  Moore  had  not  a  leg  to  stand 
upon,"  exactly  the  contrary  to  what  Moore  has  stated,  as  will  be 
presently  established  by  the  decision  of  two  barristers,  one  of  whom 
I  am  happy  to  say  survives,  and  may  be  appealed  to,  if  necessarv, 
as  to  the  accuracy  of  the  following  statement — Mr.  Seijeant 
Merewether,  who  was  Moore's  arbitrator,  and  from  whom  I  first 
learned  that  Moore  had  kept  a  diary  chronicling  the  gossip  of  the 
day. 

After  this  interview  of  4th  April,  between  Moore  and  Power, 
the  latter  called  on  me  and  asked  me  if  I  would  have  any  objec- 
tion to  act  on  his  (Power's)  part  in  a  little  dispute  about  a  small 
sum  of  money  of  no  great  consequence  between  Mr.  Moore  and 
himself.  To  this  my  answer  was,  "Certainly  not ;"  adding,  how- 
ever, that  "  I  should  like  to  know  something  moie  of  the  particu- 
lars." When  Mr.  Power  named  Mr.  Rogers  as  the  party  pro- 
posed by  Mr.  Moore  in  an  amicable  arbitration,  I  did  not  hesitate 
to  assent,  and  a  few  evenings  afterwards  I  was  allowed  by  Mr. 
Power  to  inspect  his  books  with  reference  to  the  subject  for  a 
series  of  years. 

I  found  that  for  fourteen  years  Mr.  Power  had  regularly  cre- 
dited Mr.  Moore  with  £500  under  the  simple  entry  of  ''  By  annu- 
ity," without  charging,  so  far  as  I  recollect,  interest  upon  his 
advances,  which  were,  on  the  1st  January 


1819 

1820 

£102  11 

11 
C 
1 
6 
8 
9 

10 

182G 

1827  ,  .  . 
1828 

£1233   G  11 

1496  11  10 

1S21 

201  18 

1547  12   8 

1822 

504  6 

842  19 

1134  7 

1829 

1830 

, , , ,   1G65  13   1 
996  12  4 

1824 

1831 

814  12  10 

1825 

1832 

534  0  10 

On  the  31st  December,  1828,  Moore  wrote  to  Mr.  Power — 
"  To  have  you  so  much  in  advance  to  me,  without  any  set-off  in 
my  work,  is  a  very  uncomfortable  feeling  to  me,  whatever  your 
good-nature  may  make  it  to  you." 
2 


XXVI  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

Moore's  work,  covenanted  to  be  performed  for  this  annuity,  was 
always  much  in  airear,  or  in  such  a  crude  and  sketchy  state  as  to 
be  useless  to  Mr.  Power,  whose  loss  by  the  delay  in  the  produc- 
tion must  have  been  considerable.  There  is  an  old  adage  that 
"  short  accounts  make  long  friends,"  but  Moore  thought  other- 
wise ;  and  long  accounts  appear  to  him  to  have  been  more  agree- 
able with  his  music  publisher,  when,  in  182S  and  1829,  Moore 
could  not  but  have  been  aware  that  he  was  upwards  of  £1500  in 
Mr.  Power's  debt;  or,  to  use  his  admirable  sentence  with  reference 
to  Sheridan,  written  about  this  period,  (and  which  truly  explains 
Moore's  own  pecuniary  situation,)  he  bad  attained  "  that  happy 
art  in  which  the  people  of  this  country  are  such  adepts,  of  putting 
the  future  in  pawn  for  the  supply  of  the  present." 

Mr.  Power's  declaration  was,  that  with  a  young  and  growing 
family,  he  felt  glad  to  get  any  thing  from  Moore,  as  a  kind  of  se- 
curity for  this  heavy  advance  over  and  above  his  annual  payments 
of  £500,  but  that  he  never  could  induce  Mr.  Moore  to  come  to  a 
settlement,  as,  whenever  the  subject  of  their  "reckoning"  was 
mentioned,  he  was  "always  in  a  flutter  after  Lords,  Ladies  and 
Lobsters." 

Power's  accounts  showed  at  a  glance  that  he  had  always  acted 
in  the  most  liberal  spiiit  towards  Moore,  as  charges  for  music, 
binding,  stationery,  books,  and  other  similar  items,  although  entered 
in  Power's  Petty  Cash  Account  at  what  is  called  "  the  trade"  (or 
a  reduced)  price,  were  often  struck  out,  and  sometimes  the  amount 
was  considerable  ; — at  least  this  is  my  impression.  I  had  there- 
fore no  hesitation  in  expressing  in  writing  to  Mr.  Power  my  candid 
opinion  that,  from  what  I  had  seen,  I  did  not  think  that  Mr.  Moore 
ought  to  resist  or  dispute  a  lalance  of  £500  against  him,  in  so 
liberal  an  account-current;  for  even  admitting  that  more  than  one 
charge  was  wrong,  they  were  balanced  or  neai  ly  so  upon  the  whole 
by  no  calculation  of  interest  of  money  in  advance  being  brought  to 
account,  as  well  as  by  the  deductions  from  the  Petty  Cash  Book. 
And  Moore  could,  if  he  pleased,  in  the  course  of  the  next  year, 
too,  easily  clear  oft'  this  balance  against  him  by  sixteen  or  twenty 
songs  in  a  lit  state  for  publication.     And  therefore  that  according 


INTRODUCTORY  LETTER.  XXVli 

to  my  feeling  there  need  be  little  dispute  or  arbitration  about  the 
matter. 

From  the  documents  which  I  had  looked  over,  it  appeared  clear 
to  me  that  Moore  was  bound  to  furnish  to  Mr.  Power  a  certain 
number  of  tyrics  (sixteen,  I  think,  of  course  in  a  proper  state  for 
the  press)  for  his  annuity  of  £500 ;  but  being  unable  to  do  this 
without  calling  in  professional  assistance,  he  directly  sanctioned  a 
payment  or  deduction  from  the  annuity  to  Sir  John  Stevenson  of 
£50  for  his  musical  arrangements  ;  because  Sir  John  wisely  se- 
lected the  brothers  Power  to  be  his  paymaster  of  £  100  a  year,  in 
preference  to  drawing  upon,  or  "  flying  kites,"  "as  it  was  then 
called,  with  Thomas  Moore.  And  thus  did  this  charge  creep  into 
the  accounts  of  Mr.  Power  for  musical  arrano-ements,  reducing 
Moore's  annuity  to  £450.     This  is  acknowledged  by  Moore. 

Stevenson  having  failed,  as  Moore  did,  (perhaps  in  consequence,) 
to  execute  his  work  within  any  thing  like  the  stipulated  time, 
Moore,  whose  fine  musical  ear  and  fastidious  taste  no  one  can 
doubt,  was  left  at  liberty  to  select  another  "  musical  arranger," 
and  his  choice  fell  upon  Sir  Henry  Bishop;  who  however  con- 
sidered £250  per  annum,  instead  of  £100,  to  be  nearer  his  market- 
able value  for  the  performance  of  the  work  required  of  him  by  Mr. 
Moore  and  Power;  towards  this,  Mr.  Power  contributed  his  half; 
charging  the  other  against  Mr.  Moore.  But  let  us  revert  to  pre- 
vious circumstances. 

Moore,  in  his  letter  of  10th  April,  1813,  to  Mr.  Power,  says  that 
he  would  give  Sir  John  Stevenson  one  of  his  hundreds  to  get  him 
fixed  with  him.  This  shows  that  he  was  willing  to  pay,  twenty 
years  previously  to  his  dispute  with  his  publisher,  more  than  £50 
per  annum  to  arrange  his  lyrical  compositions,  for  the  arranger 
suited  his  taste. 

Mr.  Moore  even  never  objected  to  an  additional  sum  charged 
against  him  on  the  9th  August,  1816,  for  Sir  John  Stevenson's 
compositions  of  five  sacred  songs,  viz.,  £41 :  13:  4.  This  alone 
is  a  proof  that  Moore  always  considered  himself  to  be  liable 
for  such  charges  in  proportion  to  the  annuity,  exclusive  of  the 
charge  for  arrangement. 


XXVlli  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

In  letter  of  29th  August,  1818,  Mr.  Moore  says  that  in  justice 
to  Mr.  Power  his  works  "  must  be  put  into  a  finished  state  by 
some  one."  He  also  says  :  "  You  can  hardly  fix  upon  any  composer 
for  the  purpose  till  I  am  on  the  spot  to  consult  with  you."  A 
proof  that  Bishop  would  not  have  been  employed  on  Moore's 
works  without  his  advice  and  consent. 

In  letter  of  23d  December,  1818,  Moore  says  that  he  has 
written  to  Stevenson  to  know  if  he  means  to  finish  his  works,  as,  if 
he  will  not  do  them  off  hand,  he  (Mr.  Moore)  must  get  somebody 
else  to  do  them.  This  shows  that  Mr.  Moore  considered  himself 
as  employing  his  own  arranger  and  composer. 

On  the  18th  of  January,  1810,  Moore  stated  by  letter  to  Mr. 
Power  that  the  account  furnished  to  December  was  "  highly  satis- 
factory," and  made  no  objection  to  the  sura  of  £41 :  13:4.  charged 
by  Sir  John  Stevenson  for  composing  five  sacred  songs — making 
the  annual  payment  to  him  £91:13:4.  And  yet,  in  the  face  of 
this  fact,  Mr.  Moore  has  the  audacity  to  write  to  Mr.  Power  on  the 
8!h  May,  1832,  "  1  but  require  you  to  adhere  to  the  terms  on  which 
we  first  commenced,  with  the  simple  exception  of  the  £50  a  year 
deducted  from  my  annuity  to  pay  the  arranger,  which  is  the  only 
deviation  from  our  original  terms  that  cither  you  ever  proposed,  or 
that  /,  either  by  word  or  writing,  ever  consented  to." 

After  this  strange  lapse  of  memory,  who  can  believe  any  state- 
ment made  by  Mi-.  Moore  ? 

Moore's  letters  to  Mr.  Power  of  16th  and  22d  July,  1823, 
January,  1824,  and  17th  April,  1829,  establish  the  fact  that 
Moore  employed  Bishop  to  compose  music  to  his  words,  and  of 
course  bound  himself  to  pay  for  those  compositions  he  had  thus 
ordered,  however  willing  to  transfer  his  debt  to  the  shoulders  of 
his  pecuniary  Atlas,  Mr.  Power. 

Indeed,  all  this  appeared  so  obvious  to  me,  that  I  stated  to  Mr.. 
Power  ray  conviction  that,  without  any  arbitration  being  necessary, 
if  the  matter  was  put  in  its  proper  light  before  Mr.  Moore  by  any 
mutual  friend,  he  could  not  fail  to  be  convinced  of  the  erroneous 
view  he  had  taken  of  his  case  with  Mr.  Power,  both  in  honor 
and  in  equity.    And  I  drew  up  a  short  statement,  of  which  some 


INTRODUCTORY  LETTER.  xxix 

parts  have  been  used  in  the  present  letter.  But  Mr.  Moore  was 
not  to  be  convinced,  and  he  went  about  making  statements  of  his 
supposed  grievance,  which  no  doubt  he  made  appear  to  be  a  real 
one  to  many,  by  the  suppression  of  facts. 

Early  in  August,  Moore  appeared  again  in  London,  and  returned 
to  his  old  charge  about  the  accounts  by  addressing  the  following 
somewhat  taunting  letter  to  Mr.  Power : 

Brooks's,  August  S,  1833. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — Until  the  main  point  of  difference  between  us, — 
that  of  the  charges  for  arrangement  which  you  have  (so  entirely 
at  your  own  discretion  and  without  even  asking  my  assent)  brought 
against  me, — until  this  important  point  has  been  settled  in  the  way 
that  not  only  myself,  but  all  the  friends  I  have  consulted  upon  the 
subject  think  fair  and  honest,  you  must  excuse  my  declining  to 
enter  into  those  details  on  which  you  ask  for  my  reply. 

"  Mr.  Rees  informs  me  that  since  I  was  last  in  town,  he  professed 
to  you  his  readiness  to  undertake  the  arbitration  which  he  had 
before  declined;  but  that  you  did  not  seem  disposed  to  accept  the 
offer.  /  also,  you  will  recollect,  went  so  far  (much  too  far,  in  the 
opinion  of  some  of  my  friends)  as  to  beg  that  you  yourself  would 
appoint  any  two  persons  whatever  to  decide  between  us,  and  I 
would  most  willingly  ab:de  by  their  decision.  What  would  you 
think  of  the  fairness  of  the  man  that  declines  such  a  proposal  ?  I 
know,  at  least,  what  in  former  times  you  would  have  said  of  him. 

"  Yours,   Arc. 

"Thomas  Moore." 

As  I  had  not  given  my  refusal  to  act  with  Mr.  Rogers  as  an 
arbitrator  in  this,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  most  unnecessary  dispute, 
Mr.  Power  had  naturally  and  most  honorably  hesitated  for 
the  second  time  accepting  the  services  of  Mr.  Rees,  of  whose 
opinion  he  was  aware,  in  the  adjustment  of  a  very  simple  question, 
whether  Moore  was  entitled  to  receive  £450  per  annum,  positively 
claimed  by  him,  or  £350,  the  difference  having  been  paid  to  Bishop, 
instead  of  Stevenson,  for  performing  Moore's  work.  This  state- 
ment of  the  case  has  been  repeated,  for  we  are  now  about  to  come 


XXX  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

rapidly  to  the  conclusion  of  these  unhappy  differences,  and  to  show 
how  completely  Mr.  Power  was  right,  and  how  vexatiously  Mr. 
Moore  was  wrong.  Even  the  loss  of  the  "  pittance"  of  £350  per 
annum,  for  no  very  great  amount  of  labor,  (sixteen  songs,) 
Mr.  Moore  does  not  appear  (o  be  very  anxious  to  abandon.  And 
so  he  writes  to  Mr.  Power : 

"Brookes' s,  Nov.  3. 
"Dear Sir: — Having  brought  up  to  town  some  musical  works 
for  publication,  I  am  unwilling  to  take  any  steps  in  the  matter  till  I 
shall  have  hoard  from  you  on  the  subject  of  our  accounts,  and 
learned  whether  you  are  inclined  to  bring  them  to  a  fair  and 
equitable  settlement;  my  opinion  of  the  statement  you  have 
already  furnished  me  with  is  so  well  known  to  you,  that  I  need 
add  nothing  more,  than  that  I  am 

"Yours,  <fcc, 

"Thomas  Moore." 

"  You  will  have  the  goodness  to  address  your  answer  as  above." 

Of  course  Mr.  Power  did  so  ;  and  the  result  was,  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  late  Mr.  Horace  Twiss  (M.  P.,  and  Under-Secretary 
of  Slate  for  the  Colonies)  as  the  arbitrator  on  his  part,  and  on 
that  of  Mr.  Moore,  Mr.  Serjeant  Merewether,  (now  Town  Clerk  of 
the  city  of  London,)  with,  of  course,  the  choice  of  an  umpire. 
This  agreement  to  refer  to  arbitration  is  dated  14th  November, 
1833,  upon  a  stamp  of  thirty-five  shillings,  and  was  drawn  up  by 
Messrs.  Clarke  &  Fynmore,  the  award  to  be  made  on  or  before 
the  21st  December,  or,  in  case  an  umpire  was  necessary,  on  or 
before  21st  January,  1834. 

It  was  soon  followed  up  by  the  choice  of  an  umpire  in 

"Power  and  Moore. 
"We  concur  in  requesting  the  favor  of  Sir  George  Rose  io  act 
as  umpire  between  us  in  the  event  of  any  difference  arising. 
(Signed,)  "Horace  Twiss, 

"  Hv.  Alwortii  Merewether. 
"Dec.  3,  1833." 


INTRODUCTORY   LETTER.  XXxi 

"  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  act  as  umpire  in  the  event  sug- 
gested. (Signed,)  «  G.  Rose." 

There  was  no  occasion,  however,  for  any  reference  to  an  umpire, 
as  the  following  document  will  prove  : 

"  Park  Place,  St.  James  street, 

''December  17  th,  1833. 

"  Every  thing  to  rest  as  it  is  between  the  parties,  (except  as 
hereafter  mentioned,)  both  with  respect  to  the  accounts  and  works. 

"  Mr.  Power  to  deliver  up  the  Musical  Annual,  (except  the 
songs.) 

"  Mr.  Power  to  give  up  the  Miscellany. 

"  Mr.  Moore  to  supply  sixteen  songs  as  before,  for  the  tenth 
number  of  the  Irish  Melodies,  at  the  sum  of  £500,  allowing  £50 
for  the  arranging  them,  and  £100  for  any  other  difference  be- 
tween the  parties  ;  and  there/ore,  on  payment  of  £350,  Mr.  Moore  to 
deliver  to  Mr.  Power  sixteen  songs  for  the  tenth  number,  and  to 
execute  a  conveyance  to  Mr.  Power  of  the  copyrights  of  the  works 
which  Mr.  Moore  has  supplied  to  Mr.  Power." 

"Wednesday,  Dec.  18th,  1833. 
"Met  Mr.  Twits  in  Portugal  street,  and  then  went  to  Mr. 
Power's  ;  told  both  that  though  the  new  proposal  was  a  departure 
from  the  old  one.  yet  he  would  accede  to  it,  but  must  require  the 
payment  of  the  £350  when  the  tenth  number  was  delivered,  which, 
however,  would  not  be  for  some  months. 

"  Having  thus  settled  the  matter,  begged  Mr.  Power  to  send  for 
his  papers,  which  he  did,  and  I  delivered  them  to  his  son. 

(Signed,)  «  H.  A.  M." 

Thus  ends  ! ! ! ! !  these  lamentable  details  of  Moore's  petulancy ; 
which  would  never  have  been  allowed  to  see  any  other  light  than  that 
of  the  fire,  had  not  Lord  John  Russell's  publication  dragged  them 
forth  in  vindication  of  the  slandered  character  of  as  kind-hearted  and 
as  noble-minded  a  man  as  ever  existed.  Moore's  vainglorious  opinion 
of  his  own  floating  ability  through  life,  when  buoyed  up  by 
Power's  cash  and  credit,  like  a  swimming  child,  made  him  have 
no  hesitation,  when  he  thought  himself  secure,  to  strike  out  right 


XXXII  INTRODUCTORY   LETTER. 

and  left,  leaving  the  means  by  which  lie  had  been  supported  to 
drift  with  the  current.  The  retrospect  is  deplorable.  Moore  en- 
tered into  unworthy  pecuniary  discussions  with  his  long-tried  and 
best  friend  ;  they  certainly  gave  many  a  severe  and  undeserved 
pang  to  the  closing  years  of  Mr.  Power's  anxious  and  struggling 
life.  Moore  was  profuse,  and  even  wanton,  in  his  expenditure 
both  of  time  and  money.  Power  liberal,  but  economical  of  both. 
And  that  Lord  John  Russell's  editorship  should  have  revived  the 
recollection  of  these  pangs,  no  one  can  regret  more  than  myself. 
It  would  not  only  have  been  kind,  but  judicious  on  his  Lordship's 
part,  to  have  consigned  these  feelings  of  human  frailty  to  the  ob- 
livion of  the  grave.  And  it  is  indeed  a  very  feeble  apology  for 
ungenerous  admissions  in  a  half- told  story,  that  Moore  "was  one 
of  those  men  whose  genius  was  so  remarkable  that  the  world 
ought  to  be  acquainted  with  the  daily  current  of  his  life  and  the 
lesser  traits  of  his  character." 

If  this  be  admitted  as  a  truism,  it  will  not  be  denied  that  there 
are  two  sides  to  every  question.  And  it  only  remains  for  me  to 
congratulate  you  upon  the  decided  step  you  have  taken  respecting 
submitting  to  the  world  the  Power  Correspondence  of  Moore,  so 
far  as  it  is  now  possible  to  do  so. 

I  remain,  Dear  Sir,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

T.  Crofton  Croker. 

P.  S. — As  I  was  about  to  close  this  letter,  I  received  from  Mr. 
Murray  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "Correspondence  between  the  Right 
Hon.  John  Wilson  Croker  and  the  Right  lion.  Lord  John  Russell, 
on  some  passages  of  '  Moore's  Diary,'  with  a  Postscript  by  Mr. 
Croker,  explanatory  of  Mr.  Moore's  Acquaintance  and  Correspond- 
ence with  him." 

The  correspondence  having  appeared  in  the  Times  newspaper 
of  the  30th  of  January  and  1st  instant,  you  will  probably  have 
seen.  With  the  P.  S.,  -which,  like  that  of  a  lady's  letter,  contains 
the  more  important  matter,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  trouble 
you,  as  copies  of  the  pamphlet  will  no  doubt  have  found  their  way 
into  the  United  States  by  the  packet  which  conveys  this  communi- 
cation to  you. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


Of  James  Power,  "  honest  James  Power,"  as  he  is  called  in 
England,  it  is  here  unnecessary  to  say  any  thing  more  than  that 
he  lived  and  died  respected.  And  that  for  twenty-seven  years 
he  was  the  publisher  of  Thomas  Moore's  most  popular  work, 
<(  The  Irish  Melodies r 

Nothing  perhaps  can  better  impress  upon  the  mind  the  rude 
state  of  the  Fine  Arts  in  Ireland,  at  the  period  when  this 
National  work  was  undertaken,  than  the  representation  of 
Hibernia  as  stamped  upon  the  cover  of  the  first  edition,  ftvm 
the  original  block,  which  has  found  its  way  into  the  United 
•States  as  a  venerated  relic. 


■•&3>u 


IV 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


It  has  been  said,  that  this  wood-engraving  was  made  for  the 
heading  of  a  broadside,  circulated  in  Dublin  upon  the  execution 
of  the  patriot,  Robert  Einmctt,  the  composition  of  which  upon 
very  questionable  authority  has  been  attributed  to  Moore; 
although  there  are  some  reasons  for  believing  that  the  design 
itself  was  made  and  executed  by  the  learned  Irish  Antiquary, 
Doctor  Petrie.  However  this  may  be,  the  impression  of  the 
woodcut  on  the  Street  Ballad  of  1803,  and  that  which  appeared 
on  the  cover  of  the  Irish  Melodies  which  the  Messrs.  James 
and  William  Power  published  in  1807,  are  unquestionably 
from  the  same  block  ;  for  no  one  then  thought  it  worth  while 
to  stereotype  a  fac- simile,  nor  indeed  until  the  genius  of 
Stothard  in  1821  had  sublimated  this  rude  allegorical  figure 
into  a  more  refined  being  ;  and  one  not  unworthy  of  association 
in  design  with  the  polished  verses  of  Moore. 


The  relative  situations  of  Author  and  Publisher  perfectly 
justify  the  statement  made  in  a  recent  number  (CLXXXV) 
of  the  Quarterly  Review,  that  "  Mr.  Power  seems  to  have  been 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


the  person  deepest  in  his  (Moore's)  personal  confidence — most 
employed  in  all  his  concerns,  and  for  many  long  and  struggling 
years,  while  Moore  looked  so  gay  and  prosperous  to  the  world, 
his  only  resource  for  his  daily  bread."  The  same  grave 
authority  has  called  Moore,  '•  Mr.  Power's  Advertising  Fan," 
during  his  annual  monthly  "revelation"  of  himself  in  Loudon  ; 
as  the  poet's  friend,  Rogers,  shrewdly  termed  Moore's  restless 
appearance  in  the  gay  and  brilliant  circles  of  the  Metropolis, 
about  the  month  of  June,  when  he  entered  into  the  absorbing 
vortex  of  London  society  ;  and  which  will  account  for  so  few  of 
his  letters  in  the  Power  Correspondence,  being  dated  in  that 
month,  although  several  flying  notes  without  date  may  be 
correctly  assigned  to  this 
period.  Copies  of  the 
graceful  caricature  of 
Moore,  etched  or  litho- 
graphed by  Crofton  Cro- 
ker,  are  now  not  to  be 
found  ;  although  some  are 
known  to  exist  with  com- 
ments upon  them  by  the 
learned  Doctor  Maginn, 
the  facetious  Hook,  and  Mr.  Wilson  Croker,  which  have 
stamped  the  recollection  of  the  plate  deeply  into  the  memory 
of  the  Literature  of  England. 

Moore  was  represented  as  a  winged  Grecian  Youth,  culling 
flowers  in  a  garden  as  he  flitted  through  it,  and  balancing 
himself  by  a  ponderous  wine  pitcher  on  the  right  side. 
Maginn's  comment  was  a  bitter  sarcasm. 

'  Bpwf^iaTa  Cm  yaXaKrog  kcu  fisXi-og  yevdfieva'"  (?) 

That  so  valuable  a  series  of  letters  as  Moore's  Correspondence 
with  Mr.  Power,  illustrative  of  the  personal  history  and  habits 
of  the  poet,  should  have  been  dispersed  by  unreserved  Public 
Sale,  has  been  and  still  is  a  matter  of  regret,  which,  although 
it  had  been  spoken  of  generally  in  that  feeling,  no  one  stepped 
forward   to   prevent   by   securing  the  whole   mass    of  letters 


VI  ADVERTISEMENT. 

and  preserving  them  entire  ;  and  they  are  now  irretrievably 
di  severed. 

Copies  of  all  these  letters  having  been  made,  they  were,  at 
the  request  of  Mrs.  Moore,  furnished  to  her  for  Lord  John 
Russell's  information  ;  and  his  Lordship  having,  from  about 
twelve  hundred,  selected  fifty-seven  only  for  publication  in  the 
Memoirs,  Journal  and  Correspondence  of  Thomas  Moore, 
several  of  which  fifty-seven  letters  his  Lordship  printed  with 
omissions,  the  British  public,  as  well  as  ourselves,  are  under 
an  obligation  to  Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson,  the  eminent 
book-auctioneers  of  London,  for  calling  attention  to  this  fact, 
and  who,  instead  of  having,  as  the  London  Athenaeum,  which 
strangely  contradicts  itself,  asserts  (2nd  July)  "  over-cata- 
logued" the  collection  sold  by  them,  have  done  the  utmost 
within  the  limits  of  their  power  to  preserve  a  general  recollec- 
tion of  its  most  valuable  contents.  Indeed  the  same  critical 
paper  of  the  previous  week  had  the  candour  to  acknowledge 
that  Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson  have  been  considerate 
enough  to  give  us  in  this  catalogue  a  taste  of  Moore's  Corres- 
pondence with  Power  in  several  "well-selected  extracts."  And 
in  conclusion  terms  the  Catalogue  in  question  a  "  curious"  one. 

In  the  opinion  of  the  Quarterly  Review  there  is  no  du- 
plicity. It  truly  predicts — "  As  to  this  Power  Correspondence," 
"  We  confidently  expect  to  hear  more  than  the  Auctioneer  has 
told  us." 

The  present  volume,  although  entitled  "  Notes  from  the  Lei- 
ters  of  Thomas  Moore  to  his  Music  Publisher,  &c,"  is  con- 
siderably more  than  a  mere  reprint  of  the  London  Auctioneers' 
Catalogue,  now  not  to  be  procured,  except  at  an  extravagant 
price,  in  so  much  esteem  is  it  held,  and  so  eagerly  are  copies 
sought  after.  The  reader  is  here  presented  with  an  amplifi- 
cation of  Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson's  carefully  compiled  and 
valuable  record.  All  Lord  John  Russell's  omitted  passages 
have  been  supplied  from  the  original  letters,  by  our"  corres- 
pondent ;  and  why  these  omissions  should  have  been  made  at 
all,  but  to  create  suspicion,  any  one  who  will  take  the  trouble 
to  peruse   and   consider  them  can  scarcely  under:  land.     Put 


ADVERTISEMENT,  vii 

suspicion  once  aroused  more  frequently  terminates  in  minute 
and  unsatisfactory  inquiries,  than  in  agreeable  results. 

Lord  John  Russell's  selection  for  book-making  purposes 
having  been  completed  from  the  Power  Correspondence,  and 
after  it  had  been  subsequently  sifted  by  no  unfriendly  hands  to. 
wards  Mr.  Moore's  memory,  to  detect  offensive  personalities, 
that  certainly  could  never  have  been  intended  for  publication, 
in  any  shape,  removed  all  difficulty  or  delicacy  in  the  disposal 
of  a  mass  of  original  letters,  for  what  they  would  produce  as 
Autographs  to  the  legal  representatives  of  Mr.  Power.  And 
the  letters  with  a  quantity  of  Manuscript  Music  and  other 
matters  were  sold  on  the  23rd,  24th,  and  25th  June,  1853,  by 
public  auction  in  London  ;  under  advice,  that,  if  any  valuable 
property  existed  in  them,  it  was  desirable  to  ascertain  the 
exact  amount,  and  to  apportion  it  accordingly  in  cash  to  those 
entitled  to  the  same,  instead  of  leaving  them  in  ignorance,  or 
perhaps  leading  them  into  dispute  upon  a  vague  idea  of  the 
probable  proceeds. 

The  sum  the  letters  produced  was  not  what  had  been  an- 
ticipated, and  certainly  not  one-fifth  of  their  value  to  any  one 
capable  of  using  such  sterling  materials  in  a  systematic  bio- 
graphy ;  but  a  self-satisfied  nobleman  had  undertaken  the 
troubless  "  task"  of  printing  an  "apocryphal"  autobiography, 
fanciful  recollections,  and  painful  reminiscences,  not  always,  it 
appears,  correct,  set  in  the  tinsel  decorations  of  an  Epicurean 
Poet ;  for  no  one  will  deny  Moore's  claim  to  that  title,  in  what- 
ever light  they  may  be  pleased  to  view  his  poetry. 

The  following  pages  will  enable  those  who  desire  to  do  so, 
readily  to  supply  the  omitted  passages  in  vols.  I.  and  II.  of  the 
Biography  of  Moore,  as  it  has  appeared  in  London.  It  is  not 
our  province  to  criticise  Lord  John  Russell's  judgment,  nor 
the  portions  of  a  disjointed  work  discreditably  edited  by  him; 
but  if  England  can  produce  no  better  historians  than  Lord 
John  Russell  and  Lord  Viscount  Mahon,  the  sooner  regular 
Professorships  of  History  are  established  the  more  beneficial 
it  will  be  for  all  concerned,  as  the  latter  Professors  may  be 
discharged  at  the  will  of  the  public,  and  the  former  Professors 


viii  ADVERTISEMENT. 

be   thereby  checked  from  discharging  their  own  titled  will  at 
the  public. 

It  is  however  creditable  to  Lord  John  Russell's  candour 
that  he  admits  the  difficulty  felt  by  liim  in  arranging  in 
Sequence  the  undated  letters  of  Moore  ;  although  the  apology 
appears  very  like  a  sobbing  school  boy's  "  very  sorry,  Sir,"  as 
by  the  slightest  trouble  nearly  every  one  might  have  been 
satisfactorily  assigned  to  its  proper  {dace  from  internal  evidence. 
Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson,  however,  seem  to  have  felt  the 
same  difficulty ;  but  although  there  is  little  excuse  for  the 
former  act  of  negligence  in  the  Editor  of  an  expensive  work, 
there  is  perhaps  some  for  a  hastily  got-up  Auctioneers'  Cata- 
logue, should  not  all  the  lots  be  placed  in  strictly  chronological 
order.  In  Lord  John  Russell's  publication  four  hundred  of 
Moore's  letters  are  huddled  confusedly  together.  In  Messrs. 
Puttick  and  Simpson's,  nearly  three  times  that  number  have 
been  arranged  into  years,  with  something  like  attention  to 
accuracy  of  date  ;  and  then  generally  into  monthly  lots, 
averaging  about  a  weekly  letter  from  Moore  to  Mr.  Power  for 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  Letters  dated  only  with  the  day  of 
the  week  or  undated  follow  annually  the  letters  with  absolute 
dates,  and  appear  to  be  from  the  context,  with  few  exceptions, 
correctly  placed.  And  then  come  annually  in  Messrs.  Puttick 
and  Simpson's  arrangement  reference  to  the  letters  printed  by 
Lord  John  Russell,  and,  however  injudiciously  garbled  by  his 
Lordship,  judiciously  numbered  for  reference. 

The  Sale  Catalogue  therefore,  so  far  as  it  went,  afforded  so 
excellent  a  foundation  for  the  life  of  Moore,  which  has  still  to 
be  written  in  a  truthful  condensed  and  intelligible  form,  that 
it  has  been  thought  better  to  preserve  the  lots  in  the  same 
order  in  which  they  were  originally  grouped  for  sale  by  the 
Auctioneers,  supplying  some  remarkable  passages  and  adding 
a  few  illustrative  notes,  which  did  not  come  within  the 
Auctioneers'  province.  Uf  these,  attention  is  requested  to  the 
following. 

The  suppressed  Preface  to  the  second  number  of  The  Irish 
Melodies  is  alone  a  remarkable  document.     The  note  at  p.  "J  I, 


ADVERTISEMENT.  IX 

upon  the  rhymes  "  kist  all"  and  "  crystal,"  is  curious.  The 
reports  of  the  trials  of  Power  versus  Walker  at  p.  31,  and  of 
Power  versus  Power  at  p.  88,  are  important  as  to  the  question 
of  copyright.  Lord  Byron's  suppressed  verses  on  Moore  at 
p.  42,  and  Mr.  Croftou  Croker's  Byronic  hoax  upon  Moore  at 
p.  84,  are  singular  literary  documents.  The  minute  account  of 
Moore's  visit  to  the  South  of  Ireland  at  p.  103,  by  O'Driscol, 
the  Chief  Justice  of  Dominique,  cannot  fail  with  the  other 
illustrations  and  comments  to  give  this  Volume  a  permanent 
interest  in  the  annals  of  literature,  so  long  as  the  lives  of 
Moore  and  his  contemporaries  are  objects  of  public  enquiry. 


NOTES    FROM 

AUTOGRAPH    LETTERS 

OF 

THOMAS   MOORE  TO   MR.    POWER. 


The  Suppressed  Preface  to  the  second  Number  op  the 
Irish  Melodies. 

"  Of  the  Melodies  contained  in  this  number,  there  are  a  few 
which  have  long  been  familiar  to  the  world,  but  they  are  so 
beautiful  and  so  authentic  that  the  collection  would  be  incom- 
plete without  them  ;  besides  it  is  hoped  that  the  novelty  of 
their  present  arrangement  will,  in  some  degree,  remove  that 
triteness  which  their  popularity  has  given  them.  The  otber 
Melodies  are  but  little  known,  and  many  of  them  though  suited 
to  poetry,  and  the  voice,  by  the  regularity  of  their  form,  and  the 
limits  of  their  compass,  are  now  for  the  first  time  associated  with 
English  words. 

"The  value  of  those  airs,  which  Sir  John  Stevenson  has 
harmonized,  is  considerably  enhanced  by  the  skill  and  elegance 
with  which  their  parts  and  accompaniments  are  managed  ;  and 
they  lead  us  to  think,  by  the  facility  with  which  they  admit  of 
such  arrangement,  that  our  Melodies,  in  general,  from  indulging 
less  in  those  irregular  intervals,  those  mutilations  of  the  scale 
which  characterize  the  old  Scotch  music,  are  much  more 
amenable  than  the  latter  to  the  laws  of  harmony  and  counter- 
point. 

"  With  respect  to  the  verses  which  I  have  here  written  for 
this  work,  as  they  are  intended  rather  to  be  sung  than  read,  I 

B 


can  answer  for  their  sound,  with  somewhat  more  safety  than 
their  sense  ;  yet  it  would  be  affectation  to  deny  that  I  have  given 
much  attention  to  the  task,  and  that  it  is  not  through  want  of 
zeal  or  industry,  if  I  unfortunately  disgrace  the  sweet  airs  of 
my  country,  by  poetry  altogether  unworthy  of  their  taste,  their 
energy,  and  their  tenderness. 

"Our  history,  for  many  centuries  past,  is  creditable  neither 
to  our  neighbours  nor  ourselves,  and  ought  not  to  be  read  by 
any  Irishman  who  wishes  either  to  love  England  or  to  feel  proud 
of  Ireland.     The  loss  of  independence  very  early  debased  our 
character,  and  our   feuds,  though  frequent   and  ferocious,  but 
seldom  displayed  that  generous  spirit  of  enterprise  with  which 
the   pride  of  an  independent  monarchy   so  long  dignified  the 
struggles  of  Scotland.     It  is  true,  this  island  has  given  birth  to 
heroes,  who,  under  more  favourable  circumstances,  might  have 
left  in  the  hearts  of  their  countrymen  recollections  as  dear  as 
those  of  a  Bruce   or  a  Wallace :  but  success  was  wanting  to 
consecrate  resistance,  their  cause  was  branded  with   the    dis- 
heartening name  of  treason,  and   their  oppressed  country  was 
such  a  blank  among  nations,  that  like  the  adventures  of  those 
woods    which    BAnaldo  wished   to   explore,   the  fame   ot   then- 
actions   was    lost   in  the  obscurity  of  the  place   where   they 
achieved  them — 

Errando  in  quelli  boschi 

Trovar  potria  strane  avventure,  e  molte  ; 
Ma  come  i  luoghi,  i  fatti  ancor  son  foschi, 
Che  non  se  n'ha  notizia  lc  phi  volte. 

Ariosto,  Canto  iv. 

'<  Hence  it  is  that  the  annals  of  Ireland,  through  a  long  lapse 
of  six  hundred  years,  exhibit  not  one  of  those  themes  of  national 
pride,  from  which  poetry  borrows  her  noblest  inspiration;  and 
that  history  which  ought  to  be  the  richest  garden  of  the  Muse, 
yields  nothing  to  her  but  weeds  and  cypress !  In  truth,  the  poet 
who  would  embellish  his  song  with  allusions  to  Irish  names  and 


3 

events,   must  be  content  to  seek  them  in  those  early  periods 
when  our  character  was  yet  unalloyed  and   original,  before  the 
impolitic   craft    of    our    conquerors    had    divided,    weakened, 
and   disgraced   us ;    and   the    only    traits    of    heroism   which 
he  can   venture  at  this   day   to   commemorate,  with   safety   to 
himself  or   perhaps  with   honour   to   the    country,  are  to  be 
looked  for  in  those  times  when  the  native  monarchs  of  Ireland 
displayed  and  fostered  virtues  worthy  of  a  better  age ;  when 
our  Malachies  wore  collars  of  gold   which  they  had   won  in 
single  combat  from  the  invader,  (see  Warner,  Book  9,  Vol.  I.) 
and  our  Brians  deserved  the  blessings   of  a  people,  by  all  the 
most  estimable  qualities  of  a  king.     It  may  be  said  indeed  that 
the  magic  of  tradition  has  shed  a  charm  over  this  remote  period, 
to  which  it  is,  in  reality,  but  little  entitled ;  and  that  most  of 
the  pictures  which   we  dwell  on  so  fondly,  of  days  when  this 
island  was  distinguished  amidst  the  gloom   of  Europe  by   the 
sanctity  of  her  morals,  the   spirit  of  her  knighthood,  and  the 
■  polish  of  her  schools,  are  little  more  than  the   inventions  of 
national  partiality — that  bright  but  spurious  offspring  which 
vanity  begets  upon  ignorance— and  with  which  the  first  records 
of  every  people  are  obscured.     But,   the   sceptic  is  scarcely  to 
be  envied  who  would  pause  for  stronger  proofs  than  we  already 
possess    of  the    early    glories  of  Ireland ;  and  were  even  the 
veracities  of  all  these  proofs  surrendered,  yet  who  would  not  fly 
to  such  flattering  fictions  from  the  sad  degrading  truths  which 
the  history  of  latter  times  presents  to  us? 

"The  language  of  sorrow,  however,  is,  in  general,  best  suited 
to  our  music,  and  with  themes  of  this  nature  the  poet  may  be 
amply  supplied.  There  is  not  a  page  of  our  annals  which 
cannot  afford  him  a  subject ;  and  while  the  National  Muse 
of  other  countries  adorns  her  temple  with  trophies  of  the  past, 
in  Ireland,  her  altar,  like  the  shrine  of  Pity  at  Athens,  is  to  be 
known  only  by  the  tears  that  are  shed  upon  it ;  '  Lacrymis 
altaria  sudant  (Statius.  Thebiad,  lib.  12.) 

"  Dublin,  October,  180?." 


One  Letter,  4to.  28th  December,  1808.     Proposal  to  sell  two  or 
three  Songs 

One  Letter,  4to.  13th  May,  1809 

"  I  think,  indeed,  between  ourselves,  that  the  next  two 
Numbers  will  be  all  that  ever  shall  come  from   my  pen." 

the  first  and  second  number  of  the  irish  melodies 
appeared  in  1807;  the  third  in  1810;  and  tue  fourth 
in  November,  1811. 

Three  Letters,  4to.  20th  February,  7th  March,  8th  May,  1810 
"  The  Song  which  I  wrote  for  Braham  did  not  succeed  at 
all."  Presentation  copies  of  the  third  number  of  the  Irish 
Melodies  to  be  sent  to  Miss  Rogers,  Mrs.  Perry,  Jeffrey,  and 
Leigh  Hunt."  "  Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  go  to  Sherwood 
and  Neely,  Paternoster-row,  and  get  for  me  Mr.  Keough's 
pamphlet  on  the  Veto,  Sir  J.  C.  Hippesley's  Bill,  and  the  Re- 
solutions of  the  Bishops  in  1799."  "The  only  work  I  have 
proposed  to  your  Brother  is  one  in  the  book  line,  which  he  told 
me  he  had  communicated  with  you  about,  and  I  have  yet  to 
hear  the  result  of  your  agreement  with  him."  "  Your  brother 
tells  me  that  you  expressed  your  willingness  to  join  him  in  the 
publication  of  my  Irish  Poetical  Miscellany.  I  think  between 
vou  it  may  be  made  something  of,  and  would  be  a  very  credit- 
able beginning  to  any  bookselling  plan  you  may  think  of.  I 
have  bid  Carpenter  sent  you  a  copy  of  a  little  Pamphlet  which 
I  have  published  here  and  in  London  —it  is  already  in  a  second 
edition  here,  and  takes  very  flatteringly." 

Two  Letters,  4to.  Jcnkinstown,  Kilkenny,  22nd  and  31st  August, 
1810 
Projected  Irish  Poetical  Miscellany.    Sends  another  duett,  &c. 
I  look  forward   to  our  doing  something  grand  together  in 
the  musical  way,  when   I  return  to  London  —  for  London,  cer- 
tainly, is  the  only  Theatre  for  such  things,  and  once  I  am  set- 
tled there  again,  1  shall  not  easily  be  tempted  away  from  it." 


Three  Letters,  4to.  10th  November,  (two)  3rd  December,  1810 
Money  arrangements  "  to  pioneer  bis  way  through  the  streets 
of  London."     At  the  Hen  and  Chickens,  Birmingham,  on  his 
way  to  27,  Bury  Street,  London. 

One    Letter    ( marked    "  Private" ),    8vo.    Thursday.     Printed 
in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  143. 

Two  Letters,  4to.  and  one  8vo.  Monday,  22nd  June,  (1811?) 
and  31st  December,  1811 
Moore's  father's  bill  for  £22.     "  I  want  to  ask  your  advice 
about  something."     "  I  am  in  town  to-day  to  dine  with  Lord 
Moira,  but  after  to-morrow  I  am  buried  alive.     I  have  just  re- 
ceived my  freedom  of  Covent  Garden  from  Mr.  Harris." 

Two  Letters,  4  to.  Kegworth,  21st  May,  1812 

Non-arrival  of  a  box  of  candles.  "I  know  you  will  be 
ready  to  do  any  thing  towards  my  illumination,  and  certainly  the 
loss  of  our  best  candles  is  the  most  gloomy  privation  that  could 
happen  to  us."  "  The  Piano  Forte  has  just  arrived,  and  you 
shall  soon  have  good  tidings  from  it." 

One  Letter,  folio,  Weduesday,  (30th  May,  1812) 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  1/1,  with  an 
erroneous  date,  as  the  post  mark  proves,  of  seven  days,  and 
with  the  following  omission,  "  Will  you  have  the  goodness  to 
tell  Mrs.  Peneaud  (some  time  when  you  are  passing)  that  I  have 
found  the  Paper  I  missed." 

Three  Letters,  4to.  one  franked  by  Lord  Glenbervie,  16th  July, 
9th  and  13th  August,  1812 
"  The  Quarterly  gives  us  a  great  lift." 

Two  Letters,  4to.  19th  and  31st  August,  1812 

"  I  hope  you  have  read  Curran's  beautiful  panegyric  on 
Lord  Moira  in  his  speech  at  the  late  dinner.  I  suppose  you 
know  that  Lord  Fingall  and  Lord  Killeen  have  at  the  County 
Meath  meeting  very  warmly  atoned  for  and  explained  away  the 


reflections  cast  upon  Lord  Moira  at  Dublin,  one  by  a  most 
flattering  resolution  in  praise  of  him."  "  My  friends  the 
Hamiltons  you  see  are  returned  from  America." 

One  Letter,  4to.  14th  December,  1812 

John  Moore  (the  Poet's  Father)  draws  by  order  of  his  son 
Thomas  Moore,  on  Mr.  Power  for  £25  at  61  days. 

"  Stevenson  has  written  to  me  from  Sandbach  to  say  that  he 
is  more  than  ever  disposed  to  settle  in  London,  and  tbat  if  any 
one  would  secure  him  three  hundred  a  year  he  would  stay." 

Two  Letters,  4to.  (one  of  two  sides)  1812.     "Wednesday 

"You  shall  hear  from  me  from  Lord  Moira's,  whither  I  am 
just  setting  out  to  walk,  making  in  all  near  twelve  miles." 

"  My  mind  will  not  be  perfectly  at  ease  till  I  know  how  you 
wish  me  to  act  with  respect  to  your  brother's  share  of  the 
annuity  ;  for  I  find  I  must  have  at  least  a  hundred  pounds 
more  this  year,  and  it  is  only  for  you  to  say  whether  I  shall 
draw  upon  him  or  you  for  it.  My  rent  to  Stevenson  and  Mrs. 
Owen,  my  half  year's  taxes,  this  debt  to  Colonel  Hamilton 
(which  is  of  itself  forty  pounds),  all  pull  upon  me  this  month, 
and  therefore,  though  I  should  like  much  to  go  to  town,  both 
for  my  own  business  and  the  advantage  of  meeting  Stevenson  I 
am  afraid  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  go  to  the  expense.  Though 
I  hope  to  leave  a  hundred  of  this  year  towards  getting  free  of 
your  brother,  yet  my  expenditure  altogether  will  fall  very  little 
short  of  five  hundred  pounds  (including  the  other  resources  I 
have  had)  which  is  much  more  than  I  counted  upon —however, 
now  that  E'lca  and  our  neighbours  the  Moiras  are  gone,  we 
shall  be  able  to  retrench  better." 

One  Letter,  A  to.     Thursday,  3  o'clock 

"  As  Mosey  M'Gill  says  '  single  misfortunes  never  come 
alone.'  I  had  no  sooner  got  over  the  annoyance  of  conversing 
and  writing  upon  your  business  with  your  brother  than  I  received 
by  the  Post  an  attorney's  letter,  &c."      "Your  brother  dines 


with  us  and  sets  off  in  the  evening.  For  God  sake  get  over 
your  differences,  if  you  can.  I  feel  at  this  instant,  (tho'  the 
woman  that  has  thus  acted  is  only  my  aunt  hy  marriage)  how 
dreadful  and  disgustiug  a  family  feud  is." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.  and  two  8vo.  Donington  Park,  Friday. 
Kegworth,  Friday,  the  two  on  note  paper,  undated 
"  I  write  only  to  say  that  I  cannot  write,  as  I  am  in  the 
midst  of  the  bustle  of  this  place,  where  we  came  on  Tuesday 
last  with  Rogers,  who  paid  us  a  visit  on  Sunday  last."  "  I  wish 
you  joy  of  your  injunction."  "On  Sunday  I  left  Donington 
with  Rogers  and  went  on  to  Matlock,  poor  Bessy  not  being  able 
after  the  fatigues  and  ceremonies  of  the  week  to  come  with  us. 
From  Matlock  we  went  to  Dovedale,  and  I  was  much  delighted 
with  the  scenery  of  both  places,  though  not  a  little  happy  to  get 
away  from  them  all  and  return  to  my  own  quiet  home."  "It 
will  most  certainly  be  throwing  away  the  scabbard  with  your 
brother." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  Friday.  Printed  in  Memoirs  by 
Lord  John  Russell,  No.  176. 

One  Letter,  8vo.  Thursday.  Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John 
Russell,  No.  177.  "You  need  not  send  me  the  Examiner 
any  more,"  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  Friday,  June  (12)  1812 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  178.  The 
following  lines  after  the  signature  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

"  I  have  just  recollected  that  on  this  day  the  money  for  our 
Nurse's  child  is  due.  "Will  you  take  the  trouble  of  going  to 
Mrs.  Wright  and  asking  whether  there  has  been  any  answer  to 
the  letter  I  wrote  to  Wiltshire  upon  this  subject  since  I  came 
here?  If  not  I  must  sent  up  the  money  immediately — pray  do 
this  if  you  can  to-morrow.  My  remembrances  to  Mr.  Benison 
\_Mr.  Power's  head  clerk~\.  I  rather  think  he  liked  the  Tyrolese 


8 

Air  as  I  have  done  it.     It  ought   to  he  favourite,  and  I  shall 
dedicate  it  to  Miss  Rawdon." 

One  Letter,  4to.     Thursday  night 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  179. 

One  Letter,  4to.     Wednesday  (August  13,  1812) 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  187.  His 
Lordship  has  appended  an  erroneous  critical  note  upon  the 
alterations  in  the  second  verse  as  made  in  this  Manuscript, 
reflecting  upon  Mr.  Power's  accuracy  of  character  as  a  Pub- 
lisher. For  "  She  is  lovely  [Printed  by  Lord  John  Russell 
"  lovel,"  vol.  i.  p.  298.J 

— then  love  her!  through  joy  and  through  pain, 

Though  life  has  but  one  happy  season, 

Thus  Love  had  advised,  and  I'll  always  maintain,"  Sec. 
The  passages  in  italics  standing  as  originally  written  by  Mr. 
Moore. 

One  Letter,  8vo.  (with  inclosure),  no  date 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  188.  Five 
lines  at  top  omitted  by  his  Lordship.  "  We  got  the  Fish  and 
the  Rose — many  thanks !  I  must  trouble  you  to  pay  the 
postage  on  the  letters  I  inclose,  and  to  send  the  parcel  to 
Broad-street  carefully." 

One  Letter,  4to.     Wednesday  (October  1st,  1812) 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  19G. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  Tuesday 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  199.  Four 
lines  after  the  signature  omitted  by  his  Lordship.  "  Stevenson 
is  a  shabby  fellow,  and  I  quite  give  him  up.  Of  course  you 
will  not  mention  to  your  brother  that  I  have  sent  you  his 
letter,  but  it  was  the  shortest  way  of  letting  you  know  its  con- 
tents." 

One  Letter,  4 to.     (November  12,  1812) 


Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  20-1. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  Langley  Priory,  Thursday 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  200",  and  by 
his  Lordship  dated  November  18,  1812.  This  bears  in  Mr. 
Power's  writing  in  pencil,  "Dec.  18,  1813."  And  Lord  John 
Russell  has  omitted  the  following  passage  from  the  body  of 
this  letter,  after  "  express  to  you,"  [writing  as  I  do  while  Mr. 
Gardiner  the  Sacred  Melodist  is  screaming  at  my  elbow]  "  how," 
&c.  And  "  Lord  Tamworth  came  here  yesterday,  and  we  had  a 
desperate  drinking  bout  of  it,"  with  two  more  lines  after  the 
signature.  "  You  will  not  get  this  till  Saturday,  but  I  dare- 
say between  this  and  then  I  shall  hear  from  you." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (three  sides),  Tuesday. 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  207 

One  Letter,  4 to.  franked  by  Lord  Glenbervie    (December  3rd, 
1812). 
Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,   No.  211. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  Kegworth 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  212. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  Sunday,  (Dec.  21st,  1812) 

Printed  in  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  213,  but 
without  the  "above"  Musical  Notations  of  Moore  to  his  words, 
"  When  the  calm  sun,  at  close  of  day,"  and  the  "  Merrily  oh  ! 
Merrily  oh  !  "  to  a  Tyrolese  air,  with  the  memo.  "  As  I  first  had 
it — but  in  the  slow  part  it  may  be  left  as  Stevenson  altered  it." 

Four   Letters,    4to.    (one   of    two  sides),    1st,    9th,    23rd,    and 

January,  1813 

"  Many  happy  new  years  to  you,  and  may  each  succeeding 
one  give  only  more  strength  to  our  alliance,  aud  more  bright- 
ness to  our  prospects!"  Mentions  his  "flute  playing  friend  the 
parson." — "  I  find  my  Father  wants  a  little  more  of  me,  till  after 
he  has  disposed  of  his  house,  which  he  hopes  to  do  to  advan- 
tage."    "  I  can  guess  what  your  brother  means  by  telling  you 


10 

he  had  written  to  me  instead  of  answering  you  on  the  subject 
himself.  I  told  him  that  I  should  draw  hut  one  hundred  of  his 
portion  last  year  (1812)  and  let  the  remainder  go  towards  the 
discharge  of  my  deht — immediately  after  you  sent  him  the 
account  of  what  he  owed  you  towards  the  annuity,  he  wrote  to 
remind  me  of  this,  and  begged  I  would  explain  it  to  you.  I 
answered  him  that  I  certainly  would — that  I  did  not  know  how 
far  I  might  have  exceeded  the  hundred,  but  that  I  was  in  hopes 
I  should  so  arrange  whatever  excess  there  might  be  as  to  keep 
his  share  within  my  promised  arrangement.  Now,  my  dear 
Sir,  as  I  am  in  some  degree  committed  to  him  upon  the  point, 
and  as  I  dare  say  the  burden  of  paying  him  off  will  at  last  fall 
in  some  shape  or  other  upon  you,  it  will  perhaps  not  be  incon- 
venient to  you  to  separate  the  hundred  from  whatever  excess 
there  is  above  it,  and  I  will  draw  upon  him  for  the  latter  as 
early  in  this  year  as  you  chuse.  This  you  will  observe  keeps 
strictly  within  my  promise  of  not  exceeding  a  hundred  of  his 
portion  for  1812,  and  it  is  perhaps  the  most  easy  and  gradual 
•way  of  his  discharging  his  debt.  •  I  hope  I  have  made  myself 
intelligible  in  this — he  will  not  hesitate  sending  you  the  hundred, 
I  think,  instantly." 

Five  Letters,  4to.  (3   of  two  sides),  12th,  15th,  17th,  25th,  and 
January,  1813 

Relate  chiefly  to  matters  of  account  between  Mr.  Power  and 
his  brother.  One  contains  three  verses  for  a  song  "  To  thee, 
my  Lute."  "  I  am  doing  words  to  the  Rose-tree.  I  hope  you 
have  not  engraved  '  Oh  had  I  a  bright  little  Isle,'  as  I  must  put 
a  totally  new  set  of  words  to  it."  "  My  aunt's  business  is  a  sad 
blow  (together  with  your  brother's)  tome  Do  not  you  trouble 
yourself  about  me,  however,  as  I  shall  be  able  to  disentangle 
myself  without  laying  hold  of  your  skirts  this  time.  .  I  have, 
you  may  be  assured,  no  other  old  money  transactions  in  such 
diabolical  hands  as  hers." 


11 

Stamped   receipt    for   £500  in  Mr.  Moore's    autograph,    folio, 
6th  March,  1813 
This  receipt  was  given  to  Mr.  James  Power  for  an  annual 
payment  according  to  deed  of  181 1,  for  the  copyright  of  the 
5th  number  of  the  Irish  Melodies,  and  the  following  songs. 
"  Oh  see  those  Cherries."     A  Ballad 
"  Oh  fair  !  oh  purest."     A  Sacred  Song 
"Joys  that  pass  away."     A  Duett 
"  Oh  forget  that  you  ever  were  mine."     A  Ballad 
"A  Finland  Song  for  three  voices" 
"  Oh  remember  the  time."     A  Song 
"  The  Tyrolese  Song  of  Liberty." 
"  From  life  without  freedom-"     A  Song 
and  "  The  Song  of  War." 

One  Letter,  4  to.  (two  sides),  11th  March,  1813 

A  very  interesting  letter  upon  a  variety  of  subjects.  "  Those 
two  amiable  persons  your  brother  and  my  aunt."  "  How 
unjust  I  was  to  feel  any  chill  from  a  letter  which  contained  such 
a  proof  of  your  unabated  anxiety  and  interest  about  me — but  it 
was  all  hij^ishness."  "  The  Vignette  I  think  very  pretty,  and 
very  well  engraved."  "  Have  you  any  objection  to  my  substi- 
tuting something  better  for  '  One  bumper  at  parting?'  Bessy 
is  keeping  herself  up  for  Patrick's  Day,  which  was  the  day  her 
own  original  calculations  brought  her  to — only  an  old  maid 
set  her  astray,  who  could,  of  course,  know  nothing  of  the  matter. 
If  he  comes  on  the  17th  he  must  certainly  be  called  Pat." 

Four  Letters,  4to.  3rd,  8th,  10th,  and  30th  April,  1813 

11 1  am  trying  again  to  enrich  the  number  by  attempting  good 
words  to  •  Savournen  Deelish.'  ':  "  I  think  the  Wood-pecker  a 
very  poor  thing,  indeed,  but  it  seems  to  take  wonderfully, — I  wish 
I  could  write  such  popular  things  for  you  my  dear  Sir — with  all 
my  heart  I  wish  it  and  I  must  try  — perhaps  I  may  succeed." 
"  Direct  to  me,  Oakhanger  Hall,  Sandbach,  Cheshire." 
"  Bessy   said  laughingly  the  other  night,    that   your  brother 


12 

would  come  down  ou  me  for  '  Down,  Deny,  Down,'  in  the  Post 
Bag — but  though  this  of  course  was  nonsense,  yet  it  set  me 
thinking  seriously  how  I  am  to  manage  about  my  poem,  which 
will  be  full  of  songs,  and  the  words  of  which  I  must  not,  at 
least  I  ought  not,  sell  to  any  one  else.  Wbat's  to  be  done  about 
tins?  I  wish  you  and  1  had  our  Shop  and  the  whole  dilliculty 
would  be  removed."  "  Cowan  has  just  arrived  wit/tout  Sir 
John,  which  is  a  great  mortification  to  us  all,  but  he  swears  as 
soon  as  the  Cfathedral  visitation  is  over,  be  will  come."  "The 
Dean  arrived  to-day  and  looked  black  about  the  will — but  I 
hope  she  may  defy  him."  "  In  about  six  or  seven  days  you 
shall  see  me." 

Three    Letters,   4to.    (one   of    two  sides),   3th,    1 7th,   and   22nd 

June,  1813 
"  We  shall  not  for  a  few  days  longer,  be  able  to  sleep  in  our 
cottage,  so  that  I  am  still  kept  from  business,  except  what  my 
sauntering  meditations  about  the  fields  produce.  I  think  your 
idea  about  my  having  a  dramatic  piece  in  view,  while  I  am  em- 
ployed about  my  poem  (founded  upon  the  story  of  the  Poem, 
retaining  the  songs  connected  with  it,  and  prepared  so  as  to 
appear  soon  after  it)  is  a  very  excellent  thought,  and  I  shall 
certainly  act  upon  it."  "With  respect  to  the  time  for  the 
Songs  you  have  mentioned,  it  may  be 

Oh  !  doubt  me  not— with  feeling  and  cheerfulness. 

One  bumper  at  parting  —  with  animation. 

The  valley  lay   smiling — in  moderate  time,  (or,   I   should 
prefer) — '  according  to  the  feeling  of  each  verse, 

I  do  not  know  the  original  name  of  '  the  Rose  Tree.' ' 

Four  Letters,  three  4to.   one  8vo.,   14th  August,    13th,    18th, 

and  25th  September,  1813 

"  We  were  last  night  surprised  by  a  visit  from  the   Widow 

Cheshire  (as  Bessy  has  very  well  Christened  Mrs.  Ready) — sbe 

rode  over  here  from  Buxton,   where  she  has  been   with   old 

Cowan  and  his  daughter — twenty-two   miles  in  four  hours  ! — 


13 

she  goes  away  again  to-morrow.  As  the  Knight  is  faithless, 
she  has  a  lover  out  in  South  America,  whom  she  meditates  going 
to.  Tell  this  to  Mrs.  Power,  it  will  make  her  laugh.  On 
Friday  you  shall  have  one  of  the  old  things  I  promised  you." 

"  I  have   written  your   brother  a  simple   and   true    state- 
ment  of  our  motives   in   announcing  the  close  of  the   Irish 
Melodies,    and    have    told    him    that    the    suggestion   came 
entirely  from  me.     I   also  expressed  what  I    felt    at    his  ex- 
traordinary charge    of  my  having   entered  into   a    conspiracy 
with  you  against  him." — "  I  have    done    the  new  words    to 
Young  Jessica,  and  have  made,  I  think,  a  pretty  duett  of  it." 
"  I   am  getting  on  much  better  than  ever   with  my  poem." 
,l  Is  there    any    chance    of    your   concluding   a   bargain   with 
Bunting  soon  ?     His  airs  would  be  a  great  treasure  to  us." 
"  I  am  but  just  returned  home,  for  Sir  C.    Hastings  (Lord 
Moira's  cousin)  laid  hold  of  us  at  Donington,  and  carried  us  off 
to  his  place."     "  I  think  it  will  be  prudent  to  remain  here  till 
by  the  finishing  of  my  Poem  I  am  enabled  to   clear  off  all  old 
debts,  and  start  free  with  you  in  a  literary  partnership  which  is 
the  main  and  chief  object  I  look   to  for  both   our  interests." 
"  I  inclose  a  letter  from  Martin  the  Tallow  Chandler— he  is 
Mrs.  Pineaud's  agent,  and  she  having  gone  to  Scotland,  I  have 
some  business  with   him  about  a  Bill  I  gave   her   for  rather 
a  long  standing  debt — these  are  the  things  that  pull  me  back, 
but,  please  heaven !  next  year  will  see  me  rid  of  them  all." 
"My  Bermuda  business  is  turning  in  nothing  at  all."     "We 
have  walked  all  the  way  to-day,  Hornsey,  Highgate,  and  home, 
and  I  am  a  little  tired."      "  I  had  just  written  out  the  Preface 
(which  I  have  been  these  two  days  cutting  down,  altering,  and 
re-touching)  when  I  perceived  something  in  it,  which  I  thought 
still  required  correction."     I  have  had  another  application  from 
Murray  about  my  Poem,  but  I  shall  as  you  advise  keep  it  un- 
encumbered.    I   have   told  him  that   when  it  is  finished,  the 
highest  bidder  shall  have  it." 


11 

Throe  Letters,  two  4to.,  one  8vo.,  6th,  9th,  and  12th  October, 
1813,  one  sealed  with  a  lyre  with  Tibi  under  it 
"  I  think  either  of  the  titles  you  have  sent  will  do,  therefore 
chuse  the  one  you  think  most  attractive.  If  I  should  say 
either,  it  is  the  one  '  Oh  remember  the  time,'  as  I  do  not  much 
like  '  celebrated1 — it  is  a  little  too  purring,  but  chuse  which  you 
like.  As  to  the  title  of  the  songs,  it  would  perhaps  be  better 
'  A  Collection  of  the  Vocal  Music  of  Thomas  Moore,  Esq.'  " 
"If  you  have  not  received  a  Memorandum  from  Carpenter 
about  my  cocked  hat,  and  should  get  this  in  time  on  Wednes- 
day, send  it  by  the  evening's  coach." 

Three  Letters,  4to.  (two  of  three  sides),  1st,  10th,  and  23rd 
November,  1813 
"  Shall  you  have  any  objection  to  defer  printing,  'Oh  fair! 
oh  purest !'  till  the  Poem  comes  out  ?  as  I  could  introduce  it, 
and  that  will  give  it  more  effect.  I  am  getting  on  famously. 
I  have  seen  the  Monthly  Review  of  the  Melodies,  it  is  a 
great  thing  in  our  favour — only  that  it  makes  me  nervous  about 
the  goodness  of  the  numbers  that  are  coming.  I  am  told  the 
celebrated  Madame  de  Stael  is  one  of  the  most  industrious 
puffers  of  the  Melodies.  I  saw  them  blazoned  out  in  a  Jamaica 
paper  the  other  day,  '  A  few  copies  of  the  Irish  Melodies  just 
arrived.'  ':  "  Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  send  the  Manu- 
script of  the  Dram-atic  Publican  I  left  with  you  to  him  as 
soon  as  possible  with  the  inclosed  note."  "  I  have  now 
shut  up  for  the  winter,  and  have  had  the  courage  not  to 
return  any  one  of  the  dinners  that  were  made  for  us  on 
our  coming  into  the  neighbourhood.  We  now  go  no  where, 
but  to  a  very  pleasant  family  within  a  mile  of  us,  and  I 
fear  the  winter  will  block  us  up  even  from  this  communi- 
cation. I  like  your  idea  of  keeping  '  Oh  fair,  oh  purest !'  for 
a  set  of  sacred  songs  exceedingly,  and  the  possibility  of  making 
such  a  work  very  interesting  between  Stevenson  and  me,  struck 
me  so  much  that  I  set  to  and  wrote  the  following  words  for  it, 


15 

which  I  am  sure  you  will  like."  Here  follow  three  verses,  with 
momentary  corrections  of  "  This  world  is  all  a  fleeting  show." 
"  I  like  these  as  well  as  anything  I  have  written — but  do  not 
give  them  to  Stevenson  yet,  as  I  mean  first  to  try  them  myself." 
"  But  the  delicate  situation  in  which  I  am  placed  between  you, 
and  the  danger  I  fear  there  is  lest  the  world  should  suspect  I 
stood  quietly  by,  taking  advantage  of  the  dissention  of  two 
brothers,  and  leaning  to  the  side  that  is  most  for  my  interest ; 
this  fear  it  is  that  haunts  me,  and  makes  me  anxious  to  tell  you 
what  I  have  all  along  felt  and  thought  upon  the  subject."  * 
*         *  "  However  our  bond  may  secure  us  in  the  eye 

of  the  law,  I  would  sooner  throw  it  into  the  fire  and  myself 
after  it  than  produce  it  against  that  letter  which  your  brother 
returned  to  me."  "  I  need  only  mention  that  when  I  asked 
my  friend  Rogers's  advice  about  it,  he  declared  against  it — not 
on  account  of  any  unfairness  there  appeared  to  him  in  it  (for 
he  did  not  know  all  the  circumstances),  but  from  the  idea  of  a 
man  of  business  that  two  names  to  a  deed  were  better  than 
one."  "  I  have  hardly  made  this  legible,  as  I  have  been  run- 
ning after  every  coach  in  expectation  of  Stevenson — at  last  I 
saw  his  name  in  the  Guard's  list,  with  '  Failed'  opposite  to  it. 
Failed  indeed !  Tell  him  he  may  stay  where  he  is.  We  had 
a  blazing  fire  in  his  bed-room,  and  our  best  breakfast  on  the 
table  for  him — but  he  shall  meet  a  cold  reception  whenever  he 
chuses  to  come  after  this.  I  did  not  mean  to  make  this  a  long 
letter." 
Two  Letters,  4to.  4th  and  16th  December,  1813 

"With  reference  to  Advertisement  in  Mr.  Power's  Autograph 
corrected  by  Mr.  Moore,  inclosed,  the  latter  says — "  You  will 
perceive  it  is  your  own,  with  a  very  few  alterations,  I  could  not 
improve  upon  it ;  and  I  think  as  Bonaparte  has  beaten  his 
antagonists  into  heroes,  I  shall  write  you  into  an  author^ 
"  The  Melodrama  is  not  Lord  Byron's,  but  you  see  he  has 
another  Poem  in  the  Turkish  style  coming  out.     I  wish  I  could 


16 

write  so  fast."  "  I  shall  have  paid  within  this  short  time  Col. 
Hamilton,  my  Aunt,  Mrs.  Peneaud,  besides  that  cursed  ^£1 00  to 
your  brother,  and  the  Poem  will  pay  off  all  my  other  old  debts  ; 
so  that  I  shall  start  free  and  unencumbered  when  our  partner- 
ship begins.  A  long  Peace  (which  I  think  we  may  expect)  will 
make  sunshine  weather,  I  hope,  for  our  undertaking."  "  The 
Song  that  I  wrote  for  Braham  and  intended  for  you  has  brought 
me  into  an  unpleasant  scrape." 

Two  Letters,  4  to.  Monday  (1813) 

"  I  inclose  you  the  Preface  for  the  Songs.  I  have  taken  a 
good  deal  of  pains  with  it."  "  Did  you  see  the  mention  of  my 
name  the  other  day  in  the  Morning  Chronicle,  in  an  Essay  on 
the  Drama,  calling  upon  me,  Byron,  Scott,  Campbell,  &c.  to 
turn  our  talents  fairly  to  the  stage,  and  so,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  I  will,  as  soon  as  my  present  stumbling  block  is  removed." 

Five  Letters,  four  4to.  (one  two  sides),  one  8vo.  Tuesday  morn- 
ing. Tuesday  (1813) 
"  This  morning,  five  minutes  before  six,  Bessy  produced 
another  little  girl,  about  the  size  of  a  twopenny  wax  doll." 
"  Pray  have  it  in  the  newspapers  for  me,  '  At  Kegworth, 
Leicestershire,  the  Lady  of  Thomas  Moore,  Esq.,  of  a  daugh- 
ter.' "  "  I  have  at  last  had  my  interview  with  Lord  Moira, 
and  now  my  mind's  at  ease.  I  have  not  much  time  to  write  at 
present,  but  the  following  is  in  brief  what  passed  between  us. 
lie  told  me  he  had  not  been  forgetful  of  me,  but  that  there  was 
no  Indian  place  remaining  for  him  to  give  away  here,  if  how- 
ever, on  his  arrival  in  India,  he  should  find  anything  worth  my 
going  out  for,  he  would  let  me  know — in  the  mean  time,  he 
had  every  reason  to  expect  that  he  could  make  use  of  the 
patronage  of  ministers  at  home  in  exchange  for  what  he  could 
do  towards  serving  their  friends  in  India,  and  that  he  would  try 
to  do  something  for  me  through  this  channel.  To  all  this  I 
replied,  that  from  his  hands  I  should  always  be  most  willing  to 


17 

accept  anything,  and  that,  perhaps,  it  might  yet  he  in  his  power 
to  serve  me ;  but  that  I  begged  he  would  not  take  the  trouble 
of  applying  to  Ministers  for  me,  as  I  would  rather  struggle  on 
as  I  am,  than  take  anything  that  would  have  the  effect  of  tying 
up  my  tongue  under  such  a  system  as  the  present.  I  hope  you 
w  ill  approve,  my  dear  Sir,  of  this  answer — if  there  be  any  merit 
in  it,  you  have  full  claim  to  a  share  in  it,  for  it  is  the  prospect 
of  honest  independence  you  have  opened  to  my  view,  which  has 
enabled  me  to  speak  in  so  manly  and  conscientious  a  tone. 

And  now  (and  from  this  out)  to  btisiness — with  respect  to 
the  song  for  Mrs.  Ashe,  I  certainly  wrote  a  second  verse  to  it, 
but  where  it  is,  or  whether  I  ever  sent  it  you,  I  have  not  the 
slightest  recollection.  If  I  cannot  find  it,  however,  I  shall  write 
another,  and  send  it  in  a  day  or  two. 

If  you  have  not  already  had  "  the  Minstrel  Boy"  engraved, 
I  think  it  would  be  better  to  write  it  a  note  lower  for  the  Song 
—  this  occurred  to  me  long  ago,  but  I  unluckily  forgot  to  men- 
tion it."  "  I  had  got  on  pretty  far  and  pretty  successfully 
in  a  Song  (on  the  prospect  of  going  to  India,  as  I  told  you) 
for  Savourna  Deelish  —  but  I  am  now  quite  sick  of  the 
subject,  and  shall  try  some  other."  "Wishes  for  a  copy  of 
the  suppressed  Preface  to  the  Irish  Melodies.  "  I  returned 
yesterday  from  Wales,  and  I  think  you  will  not  be  sorry  to 
hear  that  I  have  given  up  that  speculation.  Nothing  could 
induce  me  to  go  so  far  from  every  thing  civilized,  but  exceeding 
cheapness.  I  find,  however,  that  is  all  a  humbug  in  Wales, 
and  I  am  convinced  from  the  price  of  coals  and  provisions  there, 
added  to  the  tricks  the  Welsh  play  upon  strangers,  we  should 
find  it  the  dearest  place  we  could  select." 

One  letter,  4 to  (two  sides),  Wednesday  (1813) 

"  The  little  thing  was  christened  by  the  Rector  '  Anastasia 
Mary.'  We  had  unluckily  used  up  the  name  of  Jane  already." 
"  I  am  quite  vexed  at  the  disappointment  and  annoyance  that 
Stevenson's  blundcr-headedness  is  giving  you.     What's  to  be 

c 


18 

done  about  the  Rose  tree?"  "  Mrs.  Ready  since  she  has  heard 
of  our  quitting  this  house,  is  hard  at  work  fitting  up  half  of 
Oakhanger  Hall  for  us,  and  iusists  most  strenuously  on  our 
making  that  our  home.  Is  uot  this  kind  ?  Their  son-in-law, 
the  new  Dean  of  Exeter,  is  to  be  there  with  his  Wife  during 
our  visit ;  and  Mrs.  Ready  proposed  that  the  christening  should 
be  performed  at  Oakhanger  by  the  new  Dean,  offering  himself 
at  the  same  time  as  Sponsor.  We  told  her,  of  course,  we  were 
otherwise  engaged,  but  she  appears  to  be  a  very  warm  hearted 
woman,  and  I  wish  the  knight  had  fast  hold  of  her  and  her 
thousands."  "  Only  think  of  the  Post  Bag— the  fifth  edition 
comes  out  on  Saturday." 

Four  Letters,  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),   Thursday  morning,  Thurs- 
day, and  Thursday  night  (1813) 

"  I  have  been  applied  to  (with  every  promise  of  success)  to 
stand  for  the  Librarianship  of  the  Dublin  Society,  .£200  a  year, 
coals,  candles,  &c.  &c,  but  as  residence  in  Dublin  would  be 
necessary,  and  that  would  not  suit  our  plans,  I  have  declined 
it.  What  a  pretty  little  addition,  taking  in  the  full  use  of 
library,  &c.  &c.  such  a  thing  would  be  in  London."  Mrs. 
Ready  left  us  yesterday,  and  almost  cried  and  tore  her  hair  to 
make  us  go  with  her  to  Buxton — but  we  were  hard-hearted. 
She  is  a  good-natured  woman  with  all  her  nonsense,  for  she  has 
taken  great  offence  with  me  because  I  will  not  let  her  lend  me 
two  or  three  hundred  pounds.  I  am  sure  I  do  not  know  where 
it  is  to  come  from  if  I  accepted  it." 

"  We  are  very  much  obliged  by  Mrs.  Power's  agreeing  to  go 
bail  for  our  little  child." 

"  1  was  wrong  about  the  Post  Bag,  for  I  received  a  letter 
from  Carpenter  yesterday,  announcing  to  me  that  the  first 
Edition  was  nearly  sold,  and  that  he  had  in  consequence  ordered 
750  to  be  ready  against  the  end  of  the  week — this  is  pretty  well, 
I  think,  in  eight  or  nine  days.  He  says,  too,  that  it  is  very 
highly  spoken  of,  and  seems  indeed  quite  agog  about  it — this 


19 

gives  me  great  pleasure,  for  I  do  hate  most  mortally  U>  produce 
a  flash  in  the  pan,  and  I  was  afraid  this  would  turn  out  so. 
My  Bermuda  Man  has  written  to  me  (no  money  in  the  letter 
tho')  telling  me  that  in  consequence  of  the  increase  of  business 
he  has  been  obliged  to  get  additional  Clerks,  Stationery,  &c. 
and  that  by  the  next  conveyance  he  will  send  me  my  share  of 
the  last  year."  "Thanks  for  the  Sprats.  I  wish  you  would 
call  upon  Mr.  Murray,  the  Bookseller,  and  tell  him  I  have 
received  •  the  Corsairs,'  but  that  I  wish  he  would  send  me  the 
Poem  I  wrote  for  (Safle)  and  •  the  Missionary'  by  the  Coach." 
"Braham  once  told  me  the  same,  and  I  always  looked  forward 
to  at  least  having  him  in  my  piece.  I  should  not  have  the  least 
objection  to  join  him  in  doing  the  Music,  and  as  the  piece  I 
meditate  will  be  rather  a  Drama  with  Songs  than  an  Opera,  we 
can  easily  manage  it  between  us."  "  I  have  got  Mrs.Wilmot's 
Tragedy  at  last,  and  must  ask  you  to  forgive  me  this  we:k's 
work,  as  I  have  but  a  very  short  time  to  write  the  Epilogue  in. 
Am  I  necessary  to  you  in  your  Trial  1  I  did  not  well  under- 
stand that  part  of  your  letter,  but  am,  of  course,  at  your  com- 
mand in  that  as  well  as  any  thing  else,  and  it  will  be  about  the 
time  I  should  like  to  go  for  Mrs.  W.'s  Tragedy." 

Three  Letters,  4to.  (two  of  two  sides),  Friday,  and  Friday  night 
(1813) 
"  You  may  guess  our  consternation  on  arriving  at  Sandbach, 
within  four  miles  of  this  [Oakhanger],  yesterday  evening  when 
we  were  told  that  poor  old  Ready  died  on  Tuesday.  Though 
it  was  a  miserable  inn  we  were  at,  and  the  children  both  sick,  I 
thought  it  would  hardly  be  delicate  to  apprize  Mrs.  Ready  of 
our  arrival  the  same  evening,  and  we  remained  at  Sandbach 
all  night — a  most  miserable  one  it  was  to  me ;  for  besides  the 
illness  and  screaming  of  the  young  ones,  my  mind  was  more 
agitated  and  perplexed  with  regard  to  the  plan  I  should  pursue 
than  ever  I  remember  it.  I  looked  upon  our  visit  here  as  quite 
out  of  the  question,  and  what  I  was  to  do  with  myself  and  my 

c   2 


20 

poor  companions,  after  giving  up  house,  furniture,  and  ever)'- 
thing  like  a  home,  was  more  than  I  could  imagine  or  guess — 
indeed,  my  dear  Sir,  it  was  a  very  perplexing  interval  that  took 
place  till  (upon  my  writing  a  note  to  the  Widow  this  morning) 
a  very  gay  barouche  with  a  pair  of  smiling  servants  arrived 
to  bring  us  to  Oakhanger,  where,  between  ourselves,  there  is  as 
little  grief  on  the  occasion  as  could  be,  with  decency  put  on. 
She  is  most  indecorously  ready  for  the  knight,  and  had  even 
before  my  arrival,  written  express  for  him  to  come  and  do  the 
last  honours  to  his  dear  old  friend  the  Captain — so  that  if  Sir 
John  has  a  particle  of  spunk  in  him  he  will  be  here  immediately, 
I  am  sorry  to  find,  from  some  conversation  with  her,  that  there 
are  three  wills  of  old  Ready's,  the  second  of  which  cuts  her  off 
to  a  very  small  annuity  indeed,  but  the  first  and  third  agree  in 
leaving  everything  at  her  disposal.  This  third  one  must  deter- 
mine her  fate,  but  I  am  afraid,  from  what  I  yet  can  learn,  that 
the  circumstances  under  which  she  got  it  from  him  (it  was  but 
last  week  he  signed  it)  will  appear  rather  suspicious.  The  Son- 
in-law,  the  Dean  of  Exeter,  is  expected  every  day,  and  I  suppose 
there  will  be  what  is  called  a  blow  vp  about  this  will.  The 
grand  point  for  her  is  that  this  last  will  agrees  in  every  particular 
with  the  first  he  made." 

"  What  a  noble  place  this  is !  and  how  I  should  like  to  meet 
Mrs.  Power  and  you  on  a  visit  to  the  Knight  at  it !  it  wants  but 
his  own  will  (not  forgetting  Ready's  Will  too)  to  make  a  match 
of  it." 

The  letter  of  Friday  night  informs  Mr.  Power  that  Moore 
is  "  taken  in  for  a  funeral  (rip  to  Gloucester,  whither  the  corpse 
of  the  poor  old  Captain  was  sent  off  this  morning,  and  I  and 
a  Mr.  Cowan  from  Dublin  are  to  set  off  after  to-morrow." 
"  The  Widow  dashed  off  to  town  last  night  to  prove  the  will." 

"  I  have  had  another  letter  from  your  brother,  not  having 
answered  his  former  one — I  perceive  plainly  now  that  the  busi- 
ness will  come  into  Court,  and  I  feel  that  it  is  necessary  for  my 


21 

own  character  to  put  my  opinion  of  the  matter  at  issue  between 
you  fairly  upon  record.  As  long  as  I  saw  any  likelihood  that 
by  the  yielding  of  your  brother,  any  amicable  arrangement  might 
take  place,  my  decided  preference  for  you,  and  even  my 
wish  that  your  brother  might  be  humbled  a  little  for  the  very 
wwbrotherly  conduct  which  he  appears  to  have  been  guilty  of 
towards  you,  made  me  give  up,  or  at  least  suppress  many  of  my 
own  opinions  upon  the  way  we  have  conducted  ourselves  towards 
him  in  this  arrangement ;  but  now  that  it  appears  so  likely  to 
come  before  the  Public,  I  feel  myself  called  upon  to  throw  my 
fair  and  candid  opinion  into  the  scale,  hoping  that  it  will  have 
that  weight  which  disinterestedness  and  a  pure  regard  for  you 
entitle  it  to.  You  have  bound  me  indeed  so  warmly  to  your 
interests  by  your  friendly  assistance  in  the  most  interesting 
moment  of  my  life  that  there  is  nothing  I  would  not  sacrifice  to 
shew  my  gratitude  except  my  opinion  of  what  is  right."  "  We 
expect  Lord  Moira  every  day.  You  see  how  amply  the  news- 
papers have  provided  for  me.  One  of  them  has  given  me  a 
salary  of  four  thousand  a  year  !  My  own  opinion  is  that  Lord 
M.  will  not  he  able  to  do  anything  for  me." 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.    the  other  on  an  irregular  slip  of  paper, 
Saturday,  Sunday  night,  (1813) 
Order  for  a  copy  of  the  Irish  Melodies  for  Mr.  Thomson  of 
Edinburgh.     "  I  will  give   up   the  alterations  I  have  made  in 
the   Midnight  Moon  if   it  be   of  much  inconvenience.       My 
reason  for  altering  the   first  line  is  to   avoid   the   similarity  of 
title  with  '  At  the  mid  hour   of  night.'     You  will  perceive  in 
the  4th  line  of  the  same  that  I  am  not  quite  decided  about  the 
name  of  the  '  grove.'  "     "  My  squibs  I  should   suppose  will  be 
out  to-morrow — they  were  printed  at  the  very  quick  rate  of  a 
sheet  a  week."      [The  title  of  the  Midnight  Moon  was  subse- 
quently   changed    into    "  The   Young  May    Moon"    and    the 
"  Grove,"  named  Morna,  with  a  note  by  Mr.  Moore  referring  to 
John  Brown's  so  called  translation  in  Bunting's  Irish  Melodies.] 


•  )■) 


Two  imperfect  Letter*  in  Mr.  Moore's  autograph,  -lto.,  and  on 
an  irregular  slip  of  paper  the  second  verse  of  "  the  Legacy" 
from  the  second  Number  of  the  Irish  Melodies,  undated 
Both  of  the  letters  refer  to  the  dispute  between  Mr.  Power 
and  his  brother.  On  the  back  of  one  is  written  a  draft  of 
part  of  a  letter  addressed  by  Mr.  James  Power  to  his  brother 
William,  and  the  other  is  a  draft  of  part  of  a  letter  for  the 
same  purpose  in  Mr.  Moore's  Autograph  in  which  the  manner 
he  refers  to  himself  is  remarkable,  viz.  "  In  short  to  sum  up 
my  determination  upon  the  subject,  whatever  the  easiness  of 
Mr.  Moore's  disposition  may  lead  him  to  suggest  to  me,  I  never 
will  allow  myself  to  be  influenced  either  by  him  or  you  to  make 
any  alteration  in  the  Deed  that  has  passed  between  us.  Mr. 
Moore,  as  you  know  very  well,  is  not  a  man  of  business,  and 
however  I  may  pay  deference  to  his  judgment  upon  other 
matters,  yet  in  the  present  affair,  I  am  sure  I  consult  not  only 
my  own  interest  but  his,  in  resisting  every  attempt  to  set  aside 
the  agreement  he  has  made  with  me — therefore  it  is  useless  for 
you  to  give  him  anymore  trouble  upon  the  subject.  Mr.  Moore 
tells  me  that,  in  conseepjence  of  a  request  you  have  made  to 
him,  he  purposes  sending  you  copies  of  what  he  has  written — 
to  this  I  shall  only  say,  that  the  moment  such  act  of  his  shall 
come  to  my  knowledge,  I  shall  not  consider  myself  restrained 
by  any  delicacy  towards  him  from  applying  to  the  Court  of 
Chancery  instantly  to  prevent  you  from  publishing  a  single  line 
or  note  of  his,  and  commencing  such  proceedings  against  him, 
as  in  such  case  I  shall  have  it  in  my  power  to  do.  I  have  left 
him  with  this  assurance,  and  much  as  I  should  regret  the  loss 
of  a  friendship  so  estimable  [substituted  for  "valuable"  struck 
out]  as  his,  I  would  sooner  risk  it,  than  admit  any  infringement 
of  the  Deed  by  which  he  is  bound  to  me." 

Three  Letters,  4to.   (one  of  three,  the  others  of  two  sides),  un- 
dated. (1813) 
Arrangement   of  Songs    in  the    fifth   Number   of  the   Irish 


23 

Melodies.     "  Bessy  wishes  to  have  her  Song 'I  would  mourn 
the  hopes'  last  in  the  Collection."     "  We  hope   to   start  from 
Kogworth  this  day  week.     Our  Sale  is  to  be   on  Monday,  and 
I  have  great  hopes  I  shall  shirk  the  income  tax,  which   1  do 
not  feel  the  least  remorse  of  conscience  about — I  am  trusting 
for  everything  to  the  sale,  and  have  not  paid  a  bill  these  two 
months."     "  I  have  written  to  Stevenson  most  pressingly  to 
meet  us  at  Ready's,  if  he  does   I  shall  be  sure  to  settle  your 
business  with  him.     I  would  really  I  think  give  up  one  of  my 
hundreds  to  him  to  get  him  fixed  among  us.     Mrs.  Ready  is 
fitting  up  a  nursery  for  us,  and  seems  determined  that  we  shall 
become  her  inmates.     I  can  perceive  by  your   silence  that  you 
do  not  like  my  Post  Bag.     Its  sale  however  is  wonderful,  and 
I  shall  be  very  glad  if  we  can  produce  a  few   such  bad  things 
in  the  year,  when  we   turn   heat her heads ."     "  I  am  impatient 
to  say  that  I  shall  plague  you  no  longer  with  your  brother's 
proposals.      They  are  made  so  plausibly,  that   I  am  always 
puzzled  what  to  say  to  them.     I  shall  now  do   what  you  have 
advised."     Long  statement  respecting  Moore's  irregularity  in 
accounts,  illustrative  as  he  says  himself  in  his  life  of  Sheridan, 
of  "  That  happy  art  in  which  the  people  of  this  country  are 
such  adepts — of  put  tiny  the  future  in  pawn  for  the  supply  of 
the  present."     "I  got  it  into  my  head  very  foolishly  that  my 
year  ended  with  1812,   and  though   I   am  glad  to  find  that  I 
have  so  much  '  time  to  the  good'  for  finishing  my  number  of 
Melodies  to  my  satisfaction,  yet  I  feel  somewhat  alarmed  about 
the  enormity  of  my  Saturday's  draft  on  you,  as  it  makes,  I  fear, 
a  most  tremendous  anticipation  of  my  next  year's  resources,  and 
must  inconvenience  you  in  proportion.     What  led  me  into  my 
confusion  about  the  time  was  my  having,  I  believe,  anticipated 
in  the  same  manner  at  the  beginning  of  1812.     But  I  never 
kept  any  thing  like  an  account  of  my  receipts  before  I  came 
here— therefore,  of  any  sums  received  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year  I  have  not  the  slightest  recollection— but  since  May  I  have 


21 


drawn  upon  you,  I  believe,  for  £50,  some  time  after  my  arrival 
— for  ^'100  in  September,  and  for  £100  more  on  Saturday  last 
— this,  with  a  ten  pound  note  in  November,  and  four  or  five 
pounds  when  you  were  here,  is  all  I  have  down  in  my  book  as 
having  received  from  you  (what  you  have  paid  for  me  is  another 
account.)  Now,  if  I  have  put  down  all  my  drafts  upon  you 
since  May  correctly,  these  sums,  with  what  I  anticipated  of  the 
present  year,  before  I  came  down  here,  must  leave  me  very  little 
even  of  your  brother's  portion  untouched  for  the  remainder  of 
the  time,  and  therefore,  a  great  part  of  my  draft  of  Saturday 
will  fall  unreasonably  and  prematurely  upon  you.  When  I 
speak  this  way  of  your  '  brother's  portion,'  I  am  considering  it 
as  Ave  did  last  year  (improperly  I  know)  to  be  left  to  be  paid  at 
the  end  of  the  year ;  but  I  ought  rather  in  the  spirit  of  our 
lond,  talk  of  the  ^£500  at  once,  without  separating  your  por- 
tions. In  this  way,  then,  what  I  fear  is,  that  there  remains  so 
little  of  my  .=£500  to  me  now,  as  to  throw  a  great  part  of  my 
last  draft  upon  the  resources  of  next  year,  and  that  I  am,  like 
Bonaparte,  drawing  out  the  conscription  of  1813  before  its 
time." 

Sends  the  first  verse  of 

"  From  life  without  freedom  oh  !  who  would  not  fly?" 
Portuguese  and  Spanish  Airs — Sends  second  verse  of  "  the  Song 
of  War."     Begs  a  cancel  in  "  '  Thro'  Erin's  Isle' — to  get  rid 

Wishes  to  consider  "  of  a  some- 


of  one  disgraceful  rhyme."* 


*   It     appeared    notwithstanding, 

and  was  always  a  source  of  annoy- 
ance to  Mr.  Moore. 

"  Shoots  up  by  Zephyr  kist  all, 
And  sparkles  through 
The  limpid  dew 
Like  emeralds  through  crystal!" 
"  Oh    the   Shamrock,"    he    wrote 
with  reference  to  the  annexed  sketch, 

"and  that  d  <1_  infernal  stupid 

rhyme  of  mine." 


25 

what  longer  Preface  for  the  Number  coming  from  myself.  It 
has  struck  me  that  there  is  a  little  too  much  boasting  in  what 
I  have  written,  coming,  as  everybody  will  perceive  from  me, 
though  under  the  name  of  the  Proprietors." 

Three  Letters,  4to.  undated  (1813) 

"  Nothing  yet  from  Bermuda."  "The  reason  you  did  not 
get  my  letter  till  Monday,  was  that  my  little  Post  Girl  was  late 
for  the  Post  on  Friday  morning.  I  missed  your  letter  on  Sun- 
day, for  some  how  I  look  for  one  from  you  on  that  day  as 
regularly  as  I  used  to  look  for  your  company  to  a  Sunday 
dinner  at  Brompton.  The  people  here  are  beginning  to  visit 
us  much  faster  than  I  wish — and  we  are  to  dine  out  (for  the 
first  time)  to-morrow."     Sends  a  verse  of 

"  I'll  thiuk  of  you  waking  and  sleeping." 
"  Here  is  a  verse,  my  dear  Sir,  which  I  hope  Stevenson  will  be 
able  to  make  something  of — it  will  require  that  mixture  of 
lightness  and  feeling  which  no  one  knows  better  than  his 
knightship — You  ought  to  have  had  it  by  yesterday's  post,  but 
I  got  a  sudden  summons  the  day  before  to  dine  at  the  Park 
and  celebrate  the  Prince's  Birth  Day  ;  which  you  may  suppose 
I  did  with  all  due  solemnity  and  sincerity. — The  wine  was 
good  and  my  Host  was  good,  so  I  could  have  swallowed  the 
Toast  if  it  had  been  the  Devil !!" 

Three  Letters,  8vo.  (one  of  four  sides).     Undated  (1813) 

"  Pray  send  a  Melologue  directed  to  the  Hon.  W.  Spencer, 
37,  Bury  Street,  and  one  to  Miss  Douglas,  Golden  Square." 
Directions  respecting  leaving  a  card  "  at  the  British  Hotel  for 
Mr.  Jeffery."  With  reference  to  the  disagreement  between 
the  Messrs.  Power,  Mr.  Moore  writes,  "  if  it  comes  to  that, 
however,  I  may  regret  it,  the  many  and  deep-felt  obligations  I 
am  under  to  you,  my  dear  Sir,  not  only  in  the  way  of  business 
but  of  friendship,  would  uot  suffer  me  to  hesitate  a  moment  in 
complying  with  your  wishes,  and  if  you  still  continue  as  decided 


26 


in  keeping  him  out  of  our  Deed  as  he  seems  to  be  about  getting 
into  it  I  shall  not  be  long  in  chusing  my  side  of  the  dispute 
though  a  dispute  it  must  be,  and  a  legal  one  too,  I  have  no 
doubt  of  it."  "  I  wish  you  had  been  with  us  last  week.  Lord 
Moira  sent  us  a  haunch  of  venison,  some  moor  game,  and  pine 
apples." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides).     Tuesday 

Printed  in  the  Memoirs  by  Lord  John  Russell,  No.  217, 
with  the  following  twenty-one  letters. 

Three  lines  after  the  signature  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

u  I  have  made  many  mistakes  in  copying  out  the  words,  but 
"Williams,  the  mad  parson,  is  playing  on  his  walking-stick  at 
the  other  side  of  the  table." 

One  Letter,  8vo.  (three  sides).     Friday 

Memoirs,  No.  218. 

Three  concluding  lines  omitted  by  Lord  John  Russell,  who 
has  appended  a  note  of  five  lines  upon  "  a  little  job." 

"  For  this  next  week,  too,  any  strange  anecdote  that  you  hear 
of  these  people  will  be  very  acceptable." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides).     Tuesday 

Memoirs,  No.  222. 

Four  lines  omitted  by  Lord  John  Russell,  and  inclosed 
are  Moore's  original  sketch  for  the  Music  with  copy  for  publi- 
cation, endorsed  17th  Feb.  1813,  and  Mr.  Power's  memorandum, 
"Published  1816." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides).     Monday,  (Feb.  9th,  1813) 

Memoirs,  No.  223. 

Sixteen  lines  omitted  by  Lord  John  Russell. 

"  My  sending  Carpenter  these  trifles  to  get  published  has 
had  one  good  effect,  which  is,  that  I  have  got  the  Manuscript 
out  of  his  hands,  which  you  recollect  he  was  so  obstinate  in 
holding  fast  by.  I  have  sent  the  last  of  the  New  Squibs,  and 
1  think  they  ought  to  be  out  in  a  fortnight.     The  sale  of  the 


27 

Tools,  which  was  only  last  week  in  the  Examiner,  had  been  in 
the  Morning  Chronicle  six  weeks  ago,  indeed  soon  after  you  left 
this."  "  I  am  heartily  sorry  you  should  have  any  thing  to  give 
you  so  much  vexation  as  your  brother  must  necessarily  inflict 
by  his  conduct ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  gives  me  most  heart- 
felt delight  to  hear  you  say  that  you  do  not  suffer  by  or  repent 
our  connexion."  "  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  read  this,  but  I 
write  it  iu  bed,  where  I  have  staid  to  work,  as  they  are  washing 
down  stairs." 

One  Letter,  8vo.     Not  dated 

Memoirs,  No.  224. 

Eight  lines  omitted  by  Lord  John  Russell 

"  I  am  sending  so  many  letters  to  town,  that  I  have  not  time 
to  do  more  than  say,  God  bless  you."  "  I  have  had  many 
sleepless  nights  with  my  jaw,  but  laudanum  has  at  last  got  me  a 
nap." 

One  Letter,  4to.     Thursday 
Memoirs,  No.  225. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides).  March  22nd,  1813,  printed  in 
Memoirs  23rd,  dated  only  "  Monday" 

Memoirs,  No.  229. 

Eight  lines  omitted  by  Lord  John  Russell. 

After  "poor  Bessy," — "she  was  getting  on  wonderfully  in- 
deed, 'till  an  unlucky  tooth  ached  her  so  much,  that  she  has 
been  obliged  to  get  it  drawn  this  morning,  after  two  sleepless 
nights,  which,  I  fear,  will  throw  her  back  in  her  recovery." 
"  Best  regards  to  Mrs.  Power.  I  left  the  names  of  the  Airs  to 
be  filled  up  by  Bennison,  as  I  was  not  quite  certain  about  them. 
I  shall,  however,  put  them  now." 

One  Letter,  4to.    (two  sides).     December  7,    1813.     Printed  iu 
Memoirs   Sunday — the  post  mark  and  pencil  endorsement 
prove  that  the  above  date  of  the  receipt  is  correct 
Memoirs,  No.  230. 


28 

Three  lines  after  the  signature  omitted  hy  his  Lordship. 
"  Bessy  is  very  anxious  to  know  more  ahout  Mrs.  Power  and 
the    Children,    so    he    explicit,  when   you   have   time  for   it." 
One  Letter,  4 to.  (three  sides).     Tuesday  (1813) 
Memoirs,  No.  233. 

Sixteen  lines  omitted  hy  his  Lordship. 
After,  "  Ready's  is  every  way  convenient.''''  "  This  being  the 
case,  I  shall  be  able  to  take  Bessy  there  about  the  latter  end 
of  April ;  and  it  shall  be  entirely  at  your  option,  whether  I  wait 
here  till  then,  and  deposit  her  there  before  I  go,  or  go  up  now 
and  return  to  settle  her  at  Ready's.  The  latter  would  be  the 
most  expensive,  and,  indeed,  the  least  convenient,  measure ; 
besides,  May  is  such  a  good  month  in  town,  that  five  or  six 
weeks  there  at  that  time  would  do  us  more  good  than  as  many 
about  Easter  would.  I  shall,  therefore,  take  for  granted,  that 
(however,  it  may  be  necessary  for  me  to  run  up  incog,  to 
consult  you  about  business  for  a- day  or  two)  I  had  better  not 
begin  my  company  campaign  in  town  till  about  May,  when  I 
shall  have  shut  up  my  house  here,  and  left  Bessy,  Barbara,  and 
the  maid,  at  Ready's."  After  the  signature,  "  I  send  you  my 
signature  upon  a  piece  of  paper,  which  you  will  have  the  good- 
ness to  fill  up  with  the  proper  notice,  and  send  to  Stevenson  to- 
morrow evening  for  me  along  with  the  letter.  You  will  not 
neglect  this ;  you  can  inclose  and  direct  it." 
One  Letter,  8vo.  (two  sides  "  Turn  over")  undated  (1813) 
Memoirs,  No.  23 G. 

The  thirteen  lines  of  the  "Turn  over"  omitted  by  his  Lord- 
ship. 

"  You  have  made  my  mind  very  easy  about  my  money  mat- 
ters, and  I  shall  have  no  occasion  to  draw  upon  you,  I  hope, 
till  June  ;  but  your  brother's  bill  falls  due  upon  the  10th.  It 
is  a  great  pity  it  does  not  come  after  mine  through  Longmans, 
as  I  might  procure  the  supplies  for  it  in  that  way  ;  but  if  you 
should  be  urged,  I  can  in  some  other  channel.    I  shall  not  want 


29 

to  run  up  to  town,  thanks  to  your  thoughtfulness  in  every  re- 
spect for  me.  Carpenter  expects  a  call  for  a  third  Edition  very 
soon," 

One  Letter,  4to.     Thursday,  (1813,  posted  27  th  December) 
Me  moirs,  No.  23 

Thirteen  important  lines  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

"I  know  this  will  bring  money.  I  can  go  on  writing  the 
convivial  part  of  it,  but  the  political  (which  shall  not  be  so 
strong  as  to  do  you  any  harm)  had  better  be  written  near  the 
time  of  publication — and  if  it  succeeds,  as  I  have  no  doubt  it 
will,  we  can  seize  all  the  passing  events  in  this  way.  Tell  your 
brother  all  this,  though  I  have  some  doubt  whether  his  nerves 
will  stand  it.  I  mean  now,  instead  of  one  thing  every  week,  to 
send  you  two  things  every  second  week,  which  will  give  me  a 
more  uninterrupted  spell  at  my  Poem.  One  of  the  things  shall 
be  either  a  Sacred  Song,  or  something  miscellaneous ;  and  the 
other  either  Tom  Brown,  or  an  Irish  Melody.  Dalton  has  sent 
me  the  Bill  of  Fare  of  the  First  Meeting,  and  you  shall  have  it 
with  my  next  packet,  or,  if  not  too  thick,  by  this.  It  is  almost 
all  from  Sir  John  and  me."  "  Will  you  have  the  goodness  to 
say  in  your  next,  whether  you  have  any  means  soon  of  sending 
a  parcel  to  Ireland  for  Bessy." 

One  Letter,  4 to.     Wednesday,  (1813) 
Memoirs,  No.  238. 

Seven  lines  at  the  commencement,  and  seven  lines  at  the 
conclusion  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

"  I  received  your  letter  yesterday,  and  likewise  the  one  on 
Sunday.  We  are  both  truly  sorry  indeed  to  hear  that  you  have 
had  so  many  serious  perplexities  on  your  hands — the  roguery  of 
your  boy  [«  shop  boy  who  had  stolen  a  large  quantity  ofmnsic, 
and  sold  it  for  waste  paper}  must  be  every  way  a  most  dis- 
tressing discovery,  and  I  can  easily  imagine  what  a  heart  like 
yours  mast  feel  at  the  infliction  of  the   law's  justice  upon  this 


30 

ungrateful  young  reprobate."  "  I  have  been  obliged,  without 
giving  you  such  warning  as  I  could  wish,  to  draw  upon  you  at 
two  months  for  £2 A.  8* ;  but,  in  about  a  week,  if  it  is  not  a 
death  blow  to  you,  I  mean  to  draw  for  my  usual  sum,  and  shall 
give  you  £24  out  of  it  to  meet  the  present  draft.  I  wish  I 
could  have  kept  from  troubling  you  any  more  this  year,  but 
necessity  has  no  law,  and  you  have  been  kind  enough  to  say  you 
would  accept  for  me." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides).   1813,  (Post  mark,  AthSept.  1813) 
Memoirs,  No.  239. 

Two  lines  after  the  signature  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 
"  Longman  will   send  you  a  book  for  me,  and  I  shall  have 
some  more  to  make  up  a  parcel  soon." 

One  Letter,  4 to.  Monday,— 1813,  (Post  mark,  20th  April,  1813) 
Memoirs,  No.  240. 

One  Letter,  4to.     Tuesday  night,  (Post  mark,  1st  July,  1813) 
Memoirs,  No.  243. 

Two  lines  at  top  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 
"  Send  the  inclosed  as  soon  as  you  can." 

One  Letter,  4to 

Memoirs,  No.  244. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides)— 1813  (December  18,  1813) 
Memoirs,  No.  245. 

Two  lines  at  the  top  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 
"  There  has  been  an  arrival  from  Bermuda  since,  and  yet  not 
a  word  from  Sneddon." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (three  sides).     July  14,  1813 
Memoirs,  No.  240. 

"  At  the  other  side,"  and  the  words  of  the  Finland  Song  "  I 
saw  the  Moon  rise  clear,"  (two  verses)  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

One  Letter,  8vo.  (two  sides  and  P.S.  on  back)   Castle  Donington, 
Friday  — (1813) 


31 

Memoirs,  No.  256. 

The  P.S.  of  four  lines  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

"  I  bid  Longman  send  the  book  for  me  to  your  house,  and  I 
shall  perhaps  have  some  other  materials  for  the  parcel  which 
you  meditate  making  for  me." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (three  sides,  October  23rd,  1813) 

Memoirs,  No.  258. 

The  twelve  lines  on  the  third  page  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

"  I  have  got  my  hat  safe.  It  is  very  good  of  you  to  take  up 
my  Bill  of  £24.  8s,  but  my  payment  of  half  my  debt  to  Mrs. 
Peneaud,  with  what  I  have  had  to  do  here,  left  me,  as  usual, 
running  close  to  the  wind.  I  fell  this  as  I  do  all  your  kind- 
nesses ;  not  one  of  which  I  have  yet  an  opportunity  of  repaying, 
and  this  would  be  too  burthensome  if  it  went  on  long,  but  some 

time  or  other  perhaps  !     The  inclosed  letter  to  Perry 

is  an  answer  to  the  last  application  about  Drury  Lane,  which 
was  not  indeed  a  formal  application,  but  rather  the  account  of 
a  conversation  he  had  upon  the  subject  at  Holland  House.  I 
have  told  him  that  I  certainly  will  attempt  a  Drama  for  Drury 
Lane,  as  soon  as  possible." 

One    Letter,   8vo.   (four  sides).      Monday   night  (1813)    \inore 
probably  1814,  see  5th  April  in  that  year,  p.  35,  with  re- 
ference to  Trial*] 
Memoirs,  No.  259. 

Fifteen  lines  in  the  body  of  the  note  omitted  by  his  Lord- 
ship. 

*  The  following  is  the  newspaper  report  of  this  important  Literary  trial :  — 

COURT  OF  KING'S  BENCH,  28th  May. 

Power  v.  Walker. 

Copyright. — Mr.  Horace  Twiss  stated  that  this  was  an  action  to  recover 

damages  for  pirating  two  songs,  the  one  called,  "  Fly  not  yet,"  and  the  other 

called    "  Eveleen's  Bower."      The  songs  were  written  and  adapted  to   old 

Irish  melodies,  by  Thomas  Moore,  Esq.   They  were  originally  published  among 

many  others,  but  being  two  favourite  songs   with  the  public,  the  defendant 

had  published  them  singly,  and  to  conceal  his  piracy  had  varied  the  words  in 


32 

"  Dalton  tells  me  he  has  had  Mrs.  Ready  to  dinner,  with  her 
hair  in  ringlets  over  her  neck — such  hair!  and  such  a  neck! — 
even  Stevenson's  heart  was  proof  against  them.  By  this  I 
should  think  she  has  hut  little  chance  of  the  Knight,  and,  in- 
deed, I  should  he  sorry  he  was  thrown  away  upon  her.  Dalton 
says  Stevenson  will  come  over  with  them  in  the  Spring.  I  hope 
you  will  like  the  words  for  Stevenson,  and  that  he  will  set  them 
well.  I  have  given  my  idea  of  the  manner  it  ought  to  be  set 
in  to  Dalton." 

such  a  way  as   to  deceive  those  who  inquired   for  the  original  works.     Sir. 
Moore's  song  began  thus  : — 

"  Fly  not  yet  'tis  just  the  hour, 
When  pleasure  like  the  midnight  flower  ; 
That  scorns  the  eye  of  vulgar  light, 
Begins  to  bloom  for  sons  of  night ; 
And  maids  who  love  the  moon." 
The  defendant's  song  was  to  this  effect : — 

"  Fly  not  yet,  'tis  just  the  hour, 
When  pleasure  moves  with  brisker  power; 
When  fancy  deck'd  with  pinions  bright, 
Exerts  with  sons  of  mirth  her  flight ; 
And  lovers  court  the  moon." 
The  learned  Counsel  read  the  verses  of  each  song,  to  the  very  great  entertain- 
ment of  the  Court.     Mr.  Moore's  other  song  began  in  this  way  : — 
"  O  weep  for  the  hour 
When  to  Eveleen's  bow'r 
The  lord  of  the  valley  with  false  vows  came." 
The  defendant's  song  was — 

"  O  song  of  the  hour 
When  to  Eveleen's  bow'r 
The  knight  of  the  castle  a  courting  came." 
In  this  way  did  the  defendant  endeavour  to  avail  himself  of  the  popularity  of 
the  plaintiff's  songs.     If  such  a  system  of  imposition  was  suffered  to  prevail 
it  must  ruin  the   plaintiff,  Mr.  Power,   in  his  business,  for  he  was  actually 
under  an  agreement  with  Mr.  Moore  to  pay  him  £500  a  year  for  the  exclusive 
right  of  publishing  his  lyric  poetry.     It  was  obvious  that  if  the  words  of  the 
songs  were  sung  inarticulately,  as   was  too  commonly  the  practice  even  with 


33 

One  Letter,  small  4to.  (two  sides).     (1813) 

Memoirs,  No.  260. 

Six  lines  in  the  body  of  the  note  respecting  the  cancel 
omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

After  "  done  conveniently" — "  if  not,  I  shall  add  it  as  an  erra- 
tum to  the  New  Preface,  which  you  shall  have  in  a  day  or  two  ; 
though  I  should  be  almost  tempted  to  leave  the  Advertisement 
as  it  is,  to  vex  your  brother,  who  talks  so  impudently  about  it 

our  best  singers,  the  one  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  the  other.  He  then 
made  some  observations  on  the  national  influence  of  songs,  in  guiding  the 
public  taste  and  keeping  alive  the  hereditary  heroism  of  the  people.  So  im- 
portant were  compositions  of  that  sort  considered  by  the  English  Government, 
that  Mr.  Dibdin  had  been  allowed  a  yearly  pension  for  the  songs  by  which  he 
had  so  often  inspired  our  naval  heroes.  The  defendant  had  boasted  of  his 
numerous  piracies  of  the  same  kind,  and  had  described  himself  as  a  fire-ship* 
that  had  done  little  mischief  in  the  trade,  though  perhaps  little  accustomed  to 
such  actions  as  the  present.  This  fire-ship  could  not  be  under  a  better 
captain  than  his  learned  friend  (the  Attorney-General),  but  he  trusted  some 
of  the  plaintiffs  shot  would  strike  her  magazine,  and  blow  her  fairly  out  ol 
the  water. 

Mr.  Moore  proved  that  he  was  the  author  of  the  original  songs,  and  that 
he  had  transferred  his  interests  in  them  to  Mr.  Power  of  Dublin, 

Mr.  Bennison  proved  that  Mr.  Power  of  Dublin,  had  transferred  his  right 
to  Mr.  Power,  of  the  Strand,  but  no  writing  passed,  it  was  a  verbal  agree- 
ment. 

The  Attorney- General  contended  that  a  copyright  could  not,  under  the 
statute  of  Queen  Anne,  be  vested  in  any  one  but  the  author,  except  it  had 
been  transferred  by  a  written  instrument. 

Lord  Ellenborough,  after  looking  into  the  Act  of  Parliament,  considered 
the  objection  fatal,  and  accordingly  the  plaintiff  was  nonsuited. 

The  Attorney- General  observed,  that  the  learned  gentleman,  by  his  manner 
'  of  conducting  this  cause,  had  shewn  himself  too  able  an  advocate  for  his  clients 
to  be  under  any  apprehension  of  pirates,  or  even  of  ordinary  perils,  whatever 
adventures  they  might  embark  in,  under  his  guidance,  in  the  ocean  of  law. 

Lord  Byron,   Mr.  John  Kemble,  and  several  literary  characters  were  in 
Couit 

D 


34 

— and  I  wish  you  would  let  me  be  at  the  expense  of  the  altera- 
tion in  the  letter-press,  to  annoy  him." 

Two  Letters,  4to.  3rd  and  8th  January,  1814 

"  Have  you  seen  the  splendid  compliment  paid  tome  and  the 
Melodies  in  the  last  Number  of  the  Edinburgh  Review?  It  is 
really  most  magnificent,  and  its  appearance  in  that  work  is  a 
signal  triumph  to  me."  "  Lord  Byron  is  about  another  poem. 
He  is  one  of  the  very  few  men  that  write  quick  and  well  too. 
I  have  a  strong  suspicion  that  he  will  dedicate  this  next  poem 
to  me,  but  say  nothing  till  we  see."  "  If  there  should  be  a 
Peace  I  will  go  to  France  and  Italy  to  collect  music  for  you,  and 
perhaps  try  a  musical  tour  like  Dr.  Burney." 

Two  Letters,   4to.  (one  of  two  sides),   16th  and  24th  February, 
1814 
"  What  a  scrape  my   friend   Lord  Byron  has  got  into  by  his 
acknowledgement  of  the  verses  to  the  young  Princess !     He 
writes  me  word  that  the  Prince  till  now  always  supposed  them 
to  be  mine."     Of  "  poor  Twiss's  book,"  Moore  says,  "  I  have 
seldom  read  any  thing  that  made  me  sadder  than  both  its  mirth 
and  its  melancholy."     "I  wish  the  Satirist  had  more  circula- 
tion than  it   has;  for  they  have  just  done  for  me  what  I  could 
not  in  delicacy  do  for  myself,  that  is,  published  a  pretty  nearly 
true  statement  of  my  transaction  with  Lord  Moira."     "  I  sup- 
pose you  have  seen  Hunt's  honourable  mention  of  me  and  the 
Melodies  in   his  'Feast   of  the  Poets.'"     "I  have   had  some 
letters    from   unknown   persons  with  Airs   and  information  of 
Airs." 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  12ino.,  12th  and  17th  March,  1814 
"  I  send  this  through  Lord  Byron."  "  I  am  in  a  sad 
quandary  about  my  Poem  ;  work  as  I  will  I  cannot  get  it  reaJy 
to  put  to  press  till  June,  and  that  is  quite  too  late  for  the  season 
— and  yet  I  hear  of  more  Persian  tales  likely  to  come  out, 
which  may   do  me  very   great   detriment,  and   makes   me  feel 


35 

very  unhappy  at  the  delay."  "  I  have  been  too  nervous  and 
frightened  about  this  Poem,  but  nothing  shall  ever  fidget  me 
so  much  again,  or  take  up  so  much  of  my  time — my  friend 
Rogers  making  me  begin  it  all  over  again  so  often,  has  been 
the  whole  cause  both  of  my  nervousness  and  my  delay  with  it." 

Two  Letters,  4to.  5th  and  1  lth  April,  1814 

"I  have  at  length  received  my  dispatches  from  Bermuda,  and 
I  know  you  will  sympathize  with  my  disappointment,  when  I 
tell  you  the  remittance  is  not  half  of  what  I  was  led  to  expect. 
The  mistake  arose  from  Sneddon  (in  letter  to  me,  announcing 
what  I  was  to  expect)  putting  the  word  '  sterling'  after  tbe  sum 
he  mentioned  instead  of '  currency,'  which  you  know  makes  all 
the  difference  in  the  world."  "  I  wish  you  would  let  me  know 
whether  it  is  quite  certain  that  your  Trial  [See  Note  p.  31]  will 
come  on  before  Summer,  as  I  must  be  guided  by  that  in  my  visit 
to  town,  and  manage  so  as  not  to  be  obliged  to  make  two  trips 
of  it." 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.  one  8vo.  29th  April,  6th  May,  1814 

"  On  Sunday  night  next  I  hope  to  eat  bread  and  cheese  and 
drink  long-untasted   porter  with   you  in  the    Strand.     Many 
thanks  for  your  offer  of  a  lodging— but  I  have  written  to   be- 
speak my  former  ones  in  Bury    Street,   33."     u  I  want  a  good 
air  to  write  a  dashing  Song  in  praise  o/Lord  Wellington. 
Our  Irish  hero  ought  not  to  go  unsung."    "  Will  you  let  me  eat 
a  hasty  bit  with  you  to  morrow?  (a  little  before  four,  if  not  in- 
convenient,) as  I  am  going  to  the  theatre  to  see  Kean's  Iago. 
I  had  Whitbread  with  me  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour  yesterday 
about  a   play  for  Drury.      Lord   Byron   has  done  two  Songs 
already  for  me." 
Two  Letters,  4 to.  (one  of  three,  the  other  of  two  sides),  !)th  and 
25th  June,  1814 
Two  curious  and  interesting  letters.     One  contains  the  second 
verses  of  "  When  twilight  dews,"  and  "  When  I  am  dead,"  with 

d  2 


36 

an  alteration  in  the  Musical  Notation  of  the  latter.  "  I  ar- 
rived very  tired  on  Saturday  evening,  not  the  less  so  for  meeting 
with  very  unexpected  honours  from  the  fools  of  Derby,  who 
came  out  to  meet  us  about  a  mile  from  the  town  (on  account  of 
the  confirmation  of  Peace)  with  ribbons,  oak-leaves,  &c.  took 
the  horses  from  the  mail  and  pulled  us  through  the  town. 
After  we  had  dined,  the  same  wise  animals  pulled  us  out  again. 
We  were  received  at  Ashburne  (both  places  being  long  re- 
markable for  their  fits  of  frenzy)  with  the  same  cavalcade  and 
triumph,  and  the  only  thing  that  amused  me  in  the  whole 
business  was  an  idea  that  struck  me  of  buying  a  whiskered 
mask,  before  we  came  to  Derby,  which  I  made  a  man  in  the 
mail  (who  had  an  odd  sort  of  black  tufted  travelling  cap)  put 
on,  and  he  hurraed  like  a  Don  Cossack  out  of  the  windows." 
"  The  one  [Melody]  I  send  has  a  good  many  verses  to  it,  and  is 
a  subject  I  have  long  meditated.  It  is  on  the  Prince's  desertion 
of  Ireland,  and  done  so  as  to  appear  like  a  love  song,  in  the 
manner  of  some  other  political  ones  in  the  Collection.  I  am 
sure  you  will  like  it  when  you  see  the  rest." 

Six  Letters,  five  4to.  (one  of  three  and  one  of  two  sides,  one  8vo. 

of  two  sides),  4th,  11th,  15th,  16th,  20th,  and  21st  July, 

1814 
"  A  word  from  you  is  worth  (I  was  going  to  say  ten  com- 
mandments from  any  other  quarter.)"  "  Unless  you  particu- 
larly wish  my  attendance,  I  had  rather  be  spared  both  the 
vulgar  laugh  at  my  unfortunate  verses,  and  the  Old-Baily  sort 
of  language  I  may  expect  from  the  Attorney-General — indeed, 
I  felt  as  if  I  were  gibbetted  the  last  time."  (A  facetious  letter). 
Three  most  interesting  letters  respecting  the  dispute  between 
Messrs.  James  and  William  Power  and  their  arrangement  with 
Moore.  "  I  write  now,  under  cover  to  Lord  Byron,  to  tell  you 
that  Kelly's  book  contains  no  less  than  four  or  five* very  pretty 
Airs  for  our  purpose,  and  on  Friday  I  expect  to  send  you  one 
of  them  with  words."      "  The   circumstances  under  which  we 


37 

parted  were  such  as  to  make  me  tremblingly  alive  to  the  least 
suspicion  of  alteration  in  you.  You  saw  how  ready  I  was  to  give 
up  your  purse,  but  you  will  never  see  me  ready  to  give  up 
your  friendship" 

Four  Letters,  4to.  10th,  18th,  18th,  and  29th  August,  1814 

"  Jeffrey  has  written  me  so  many  pressing  letters  to  do  some- 
thing for  the  Review,  and  Rogers  and  Byron  have  seconded 
him  so  warmly,  that  I  am  obliged  to  give  him  two  articles  for 
this  Number — but  I  never  will  give  him  any  more  ;  these  things 
will  be  too  valuable  to  us  to  be  thrown  away  so  slightly."  u  I 
write  now  merely  to  say  that  I  have  done  '  Cuislah  ma  chree,' 
after  many  trials."  The  letter  of  18th  August  announces  the 
birth  of  "  Miss  Olivia  Byron  Moore  (that  is  to  be)."  "  I  think 
you  will  not  grudge  ten  pence  for  the  intelligence  of  Bessy's 
safety,  it  would  be  worth  twenty  pence,  if  I  had  a  boy  to  an- 
nounce to  you,  but  unluckily  it  is  another  girl."  "  But  I  will 
drink  an  extraordinary  glass  or  two  to-day,  and  one  of  the  ex- 
traordinaries  shall  be  to  you  and  yours."  "  I  have  been  wisked 
away  to  the  Derby  Races  by  my  friend  Joe  Atkinson,  and  the 
worst  of  it  is  cannot  get  back  for  love  or  money.  I  am  invited 
from  this  by  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  to  meet  the  Harringtons 
with  him  at  Chatsworth  for  some  days — but  I  do  not  think  I 
shall  go.     Forgive  me  all  my  sins,"  &c. 

It  was  upon  this  occasion  that  Mr.  Atkinson  wrote  the 
following,  we  believe,  unpublished  epigram. 

I'm  sorry,  dear  Moore,  there's  a  damp  to  your  joy, 

Nor  think  my  old  strain  of  mythology  stupid, 
When  I  say  that  your  wife  had  a  right  to  a  boy, 

For  Venus  is  nothing  without  a  young  Cupid. 
But  since  Fate,  the  boon  that  you  wished  for,  refuses, 

By  granting  three  girls  to  your  happy  embraces, 
He  meant,  when  you  wandered  abroad  with  the  Muses, 

That  your  wife  should  be  circled  at  home  by  the  Graces." 


38 

Mr.  Moore  to  Sir  John  Stevenson  and  Mr.  Power,  2  letters  -I to. 
(one  of  two  sides),  10th  and  13th  September,  1814. 
"  I  have  just  received  a  scatter  brained  Utter  from  him  to  say 
that  he  means  to  start  on  Tuesday  morning  for  Gloucester, 
which  is  in  an  entirely  opposite  direction  to  us.  Now  what  I 
entreat  of  you  is,  that  the  moment  you  get  my  letter,  you  will 
proceed  to  seize  this  wild  frolicksome  youth — put  him  into  one 
of  the  coaches  that  leave  London  for  Manchester  at  two  o'clock, 
and  if  possible  put  yourself  in  with  him."  "  I  shall  have  Paddy 
O'lvafferty  ready  for  Stevenson  to  arrange,  and  shall  make  him 
do  the  Sacred  Songs."  "  I  depend  upon  your  sending  Stevenson 
to  me." 

Six  letters,  five  4to.  (one  of  three,  and  one  of  two  sides)  one 
8vo.,  6th,  7th,  10th,  21st,  24th,  28th,  and  2Sth  Novem- 
ber, 1814. 
A  Piano  Forte  "  for  Mr.  Arkwright  (the  son,  you  know,  of 
the  great  Cotton  Man,  who  lives  in  Ashbourne.)"  Correction  of 
verse  in  the  Song  of  "  Dear  Harp  of  my  Country."  "  Obliged 
to  give  a  dinner."  "  One  fine  and  dashing  dish  enables  one  to 
be  as  homely  as  one  pleases  in  the  rest  of  the  dinner,  and  if 
Turtle  soup  be  not  too  extravagant,  I  should  like  to  have  a  little 
down,  enough  for  six  persons," — limits  the  price  to  a  guinea. — 
A  long  and  interesting  letter.  "  I  wish  I  had  sent  one  of  my 
two  eldest  young  ladies  over  with  you  to  Ireland,  for  I  fiud  the 
addition  of  one  more  in  the  house  makes  an  incredible  difference 
in  point  of  noise,  and  I  hear  every  thing  in  this  small  cabin  so 
plainly,  that  really  I  am  very  seriously  disturbed  by  them,  and 
shall,  I  fear,  be  many  ideas  out  of  pocket  by  their  riotousness." 
Criticism  on  the  illustration  to  Moore's  Song  of  my  Wellington's 
name.  "  I  hope  the  Turtle  soup  is  comeatable,  as  I  am  rather 
depending  on  it."  The  first  number  of  the  Sacred  Songs,  with 
reference  to  the  Deed.  "  My  dinner  went  off  illustriously,  and 
your  oysters  in  the  evening  were  pronounced  the  best  ever 
eaten."     "  I  cannot  reconcile  it  to  myself  to  delay  one  moment 


39 

my  congratulations  on  the  amicable  turn  your  business  with 
your  brother  is  likely  to  take.  Heaven  send  it  may  all  end  as 
cordially  as  I  wish."  "  I  am  not  at  all  satisfied  with  the  state 
of  the  7th.  No.  We  want  something  striking,  and  I  must  try 
on  till  I  find  it."  "  I  have  just  had  a  long  letter  from  Lord 
Byron — he  is  at  Verona." 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  8vo.  (both  three  sides),  26  Dec.  (note 
undated)  1814. 

"  I  have  waited  two  or  three  days,  and  delayed  the  second 
verse  of  Wellington  in  the  expectation  of  proofs  from  you." 
Sends  second  and  third  verses  with  corrections  of  "  While  His- 
tory's Muse,"  and  the  third  verses  to  "The  time  I've  lost,"  and 
"  Come  rest  in  this  bosom."  "  These  have  been  my  employ- 
ment since  I  came  down — hardly  a  line  of  my  Poem.  I  shall 
now  try  the  Ballads  for  Braham,  and  then  take  to  my  Sacred 
Songs  and  Poem."  "  I  have  just  got  your  letter,  very  sorry 
about  the  Turtle.  But  do  not  mind  the  Cod's  head,  as  I  have 
fish ;  only  send  the  oysters."  "  I  have  kept  back  '  Fill  the 
bumper'  to  consider  of  it."  "I  am  sorry  to  see  that  you  have 
put  my  name  in  full  to  those  foolish  early  songs  of  mine,  which 
I  never  authorized  more  to  than  T.  M.,  Esq." 
Two  Letters,  4to.  (two  sides),  1 7th  January,  1814. 

Memoirs,  No.  265. 

Six  lines  at  top,  and  four  lines  after  the  signature  omitted  by 
his  Lordship.  "  Wednesday — this  letter  was  written  to  go  off 
on  Tuesday,  but  the  young  ladies  had  not  their  packet  ready — ■ 
so  that  they  must  take  the  place  of  my  own  inclosures  on 
Friday,  and  I  shall  send  my  two  Songs  by  the  way  of  Davies- 
street  the  beginning  of  next  week  ;  in  the  meantime  as  I  trust 
you  will  think  this  letter  worth  tenpence  it  shall  go  by  itself." 
"  I  suppose  you  saw  that  the  Tyrolese  Glee  was  sung  at  the 
great  dinner  given  to  Mr.  Canning  in  Liverpool.  When  you  have 
any  parcel  to  send  us,  I  wish  you  would  put  up  some  dried 
sprats  from  your  neighbour  Hicksons,  1 70." 


40 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  29th  January,  1814. 
Memoirs,  No.  2/1. 

One  Letter,  4  to.  (two  sides),  undated. 
Memoirs,  No.  2/2. 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  1st  August,  1814. 
Memoirs,  No.  292. 

Eight  lines  at  top  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 
"  Whenever  you  send  me  another  parcel,  pray  send  me  some 
Music  paper — and  oh  !  the  Bill  for  Tyrrell,  for  goodness  sake 
do  not  forget  this.  The  filtering  stone  broke  all  round  the  top 
before  it  was  taken  out  of  the  case — there  was  a  great  seam  iu 
the  stone,  which  cracked ;  pray  hear  what  the  man  has  to  say 
to  this  some  time  when  you  arc  near  him." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (three  sides),  31st  October,  1814. 

Memoirs,  No.  303. 
One  Letter,  4 to.  (three  sides),  12th  November,  1814. 

Memoirs,  No.  307. 

Four  Letters,  4to.  (one  of  four  sides),  7th  and  20th  January 
14th  and  18th  February,  1815. 
Sends  words  of  "No  tears  are  not  always,"  3  verses,  "  Love 
and  Time,"  3  verses,  "  I  love  thee  now,"  3  verses.  "  I  have 
been  particularly  prolific  since  I  wrote  last.  In  addition  to  the 
above,  I  have  written  words  (to  an  air  I  have  made  out  from 
Beethoven)  of  five  verses,  about  48  lines.  You  may  give  one 
of  the  above  to  Michael  Kelly  if  you  please — 'Love  and  Time' 
perhaps.  I  shall  alter  either  for  him  or  Braham  any  words  they 
may  boggle  at."  "  I  shall  leave  home  for  Chatsworth,  I  think, 
on  Monday.  How  do  the  engravings  go  on,  and  did  the  artist 
succeed  to  your  satisfaction  in  the  sketch  of  the  Leprecbaun  ?" 
As  to  the  Doctor's  request,  I  have,  of  course,  not  the  least  ob- 
jection— but  I  do  not  like  the  style  of  his  wording.  Suppose 
we  say,  '  To  the  gentleman  who  favoured  me  with  this  air  I  am 
indebted  for  many  other  old  and  beautiful  melodies,  from  which, 


41 

&c.  &c.     Nothing  better  seems  to  me  at  present,  '  scientific'  is 
not  one  of  my  words." 

Three  Letters,  4  to.  3rd,  10th  and  30th  March,  1815 

"  Send  it  to  the  office  to  be  franked  for  me — direct  under 
cover  to  Mr.  Greville,  War  Department,  Downing  Street.  I 
am  anxious  to  know  whether  he  may  be  depended  upon." 
"  The  new  setting  of  '  Fill  the  bumper'  will  do — but  Stevenson 
seems  to  have  resolved  upou  doing  it  tastelessly."  One  of  the 
letters  contains  "  a  small  alteration  in  the  Sacred  Melody"  of 
three  bars.  "  This  being  for  no  other  purpose  (as  Kings  say 
in  their  letters)  I  pray  God  to  take  you  into  his  holy  keeping." 
Your  daughter  "  is  flourishing  most  promisingly,  and  if  she 
gives  but  fair  play  as  to  time,  will  exchange  her  lilies  for  roses 
before  she  leaves  May  field." 

Four  Letters,  4to.  (two  of  two  sides),  8th,  21st,  22nd  and  29th 
April,  1815 
With  reference  to  Mrs.  Wilmot's  Tragedy,  Mr.  Moore  writes — 
"  it  has  been  so  often  postponed  that  I  do  not  like  to  send  up 
my  Epilogue  till  I  have  something  more  certain  than  her 
announcement  of  it."  "  I  should  have  liked  very  well  to  have 
taught  Mrs.  Bartley  my  own  method  of  reading  the  Epilogue 
but  as  to  witnessing  the  speaking  of  it  my  nerves  are  as  well 
without  that  trial.  I  dare  say  it  will  go  off  as  flat  as  the  Melo- 
logue."  "  Poor  Mrs.  Wilmot's  Play  got  a  complete  and 
irredeemable  damnation.  Lord  Byron  writes  me  word  not  a 
line  of  my  Epilogue  was  either  intelligibly  spoken  or  heard. 
And  it  was  so  much  the  better,  for  really  it  would  have 
appeared  like  a  satire  on  the  poor  deceased  Lady.  No — no — 
'  your  gentle  Inas  will  not  do,'  was  quite  a  prophecy  of  the 
event.  I  find  however  my  Epilogue  has  made  up  lee-way,  in 
the  reading,  most  triumphantly." 

Four  Letters,  4to.  (two   of  three  and  one  of  two   sides),  3rd, 
9th,  18th  and  25th  May,   1815 


42 

"  I  fear  very  much  I  shall  not  he  ahle  to  compass  my  visit 
to  town,  though  there  are  many  things  I  want  to  do  there, 
hesides  the  great  use  those  '  annual  revelations  of  myself  (as 
Rogers  calls  my  visit)  are  invariably  of,  to  me,  in  every  way — 
hut  the  supplies  are  not  forthcoming,  and  I  fear  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  ask  the  loan  of  your  name  for  our  trip  to  Ireland 
where  I  should  not  like  to  appear  '  shorn  of  my  beams'  in  any 
respect ;  you  can  understand  why,  for  every  reason  I  should 
like  to  put  my  best  leg  foremost  in  Dublin  "  "  Did  you  see  the 
mention  of  my  work  and  the  price  in  the  Chronicle  last  week  ? 
How  Lord  Byron  must  curse  that  fellow  Nathan,  who  is  puff- 
ing off  his  Jewish  wares  in  all  sorts  of  quackish  ways.  He 
had  a  Puff  about  them  the  other  night  directly  under  the 
Lottery  Squibs,  in  the  small  type  part  of  the  Courier.  Talk- 
ing of  the  Jew — I  have  the  second  verse  of  '  Fall'n  is  thy 
throne  0  Israel  !'  to  send  you."  Sends  the  four  verses  of  this 
sons;  with  the  notes. — Comment  on  his  friend  Dalton's  con- 
duct. — "  I  hope  the  above  is  sacred  enough  for  you.  I  flatter 
myself  it  is  both  words  and  music,  a  very  tolerable  hit.  Was 
there  ever  any  thing  so  bad  as  the  Hebrew  Melodies  ?*     Some 

*  Lord  Byron  is  said  to  have  heard  of  this  or  a  similar  letter  written  by 
Moore,  and  to  have  revenged  himself  in  the  following 

EPITAPH. 

"  Lasciva  pagina 


Vela  proba  est." 

Tread  light  o'er  the  Poet,  whom  Death  was  to  blame 
For  gathering  so  soon  to  his  store ; 
In  the  lays  of  his  youth  he  was  Little  in  fame, 
Though  his  name  has  since  shone  on  us  More. 

The  Muses  and  Graces  hung  over  his  lyre, 
And  taught  him  the  feelings  to  move  ; — 
To  wake  the  warm  glow  of  impassion'd  desire, 
And  kindle  the  bosom  to  love. 


43 

of  the  words  are  of  course  good,  tho*  not  so  good  as  might 
have  been  expected  -but  the  Music  !  '  Oh  Lord  God  of  Israel!' 
what  stuff  it  is !  and  the  price  !  If  the  Angel  in  the  title  page 
had  four  Crowns  instead  of  one  and  the  odd  shilling  tucked 
under  his  wing,  it  would  be  four  times  more  emblematical  than 
it  is." — "  I  have  just  had  a  proposal  from  Douglas  Kinnaird 
to  join  him  and  Lord  Byron  and  Lord  Essex  in  the  Committee 
of  Management  of  Drury  Lane.  What  do  you  say  to  that, 
shall  I  accept  it  ?"  "  Tell  the  Champion  to  direct  to  me 
Kilmainham  Lodge.  I  have  given  up  the  management."  Sends 
second  verse  of  the  "  Song  of  Miriam" — "  Oh  when  shall 
come  that  glorious  day." 

Four  Letters,  one  folio,  two  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  and  one 
8vo.  5th  June,  11th,  26th  and  31st  July,  1815 
"  This  expedition  is  bleeding  me  most  profusely,  though  I 
am  not  at  expense  for  lodgings,  that  excellent  fellow  Richard 
Power  having  lent  me  his  house."  "We  leave  Dublin  on  the 
15th  for  the  Powers  and  Bryans  and  after  that  go  to  Lord 
Granard's."  "7,  Kildare  Street" — "We  returned  to  town 
after  near  a  month's  ramble  through  the  County  Kilkenny, 
during  which  time  we  made  visits  to  four  different  houses,  and 

Though  some  have  complain'd  of  his  verses,  the  spell 

Is  far  too  voluptuously  wrought ; 

That  the  action  of  love  is  depicted  so  well, 

The  passion  is  almost  forgot. 

Yet  peace  to  his  ashes !  if  sometimes  too  warm 
His  luxuriant  effusions  may  seem,— • 

In  each  line  of  those  strains  breathes  a  soul-touching  charm, 
Winch  forsook  him  in  changing  his  theme. 

Of  the  dead  we'd  fain  speak  and  would  always  hope  well ; 
Tommy's  errors,  we  trust,  are  forgiven ; 
But  if  there's  one  thing  that  will  send  him  to  Hell, 
'Tis  his  singing  so  vilely  of  Heaven  !"* 


•  See  '  Moore's  Melodies,'  by  T.  Moore. 


you  may  easily  suppose  idleness  was  the  order  of  the  day  with 
me."     Sends  five  Sacred  Melodies. 

Three  Letters,  -Ito.  (one  of  two  sides)  1st  September,  9th  and 
14th  October,  1815 
"  I  but  last  night  returned  from  another  country  visit  of 
three  weeks  duration  to  my  sister  in  Tipperary." — "  I  had  a 
sad  journey  of  it— poor  Bessy  was  taken  very  ill  with  me  at 
Holyhead  and  I  was  obliged  to  forfeit  the  inside  of  the  coach 
which  I  had  paid  for  to  Chester.  We  were  five  days  creeping 
along,  and  it  cost  me  every  farthing  of  forty  guineas  before  I 
got  home."  "  I  am  not  only  at  my  money's  ends,  but  my  wit's 
end  too."  "  If  you  are  sending  me  Gardiner's  2  vols,  pray 
let  the  Scourge  of  this  month  (containing  caricature  about  Big 
Ben)  come  with  it." 

Three  Letters,  4to.   (one  of  two  sides)   4th,  14th,  and  1 9th  No- 
vember, 1815 
"  I  have  deferred  sending  you  the  enclosed  from  my  wish  to 
have  Lord  Byron's  answer  to  a  proposal  I  made  him  some  time 
ago  (before  I  left  Ireland)  with  respect  to  his  song.     I  found 
a  very  pretty  Irish  Air  to  which  the  words  went  remarkably 
well,  and  I  told  him  that  as  I   had  failed  in  setting  them  my- 
self, the  next  gratification  I   should  feel  would   be  with  your 
leave  and  his,  to  put  them  in  the  next  Number  of  Irish  Melo- 
dies— to  this  he  has  answered  that  he  should  infinitely  prefer 
having  them  '  embalmed1  (as  he  expresses  himself)  in  that  work 
to  their  being  scattered  abroad  as  a  single  Song.     It  is  for  you 
now  to  express  your  opinion."     "I  have  some  fears  (from  my 
recollection  of  the  dates),  that  two  of  the  Bills,  which  my  ne- 
cessities in  Ireland  extorted  from  me,  one  to  Stevenson,  and  the 
other   to  your  brother,   will   become   due   to-morrow.     Their 
united  sums  will  be,  I   think,  about  eighty  or  ninety  pounds, 
and  I  accordingly  send  you  a  draft  on  the  other  side  for  .£100 
upon  the  Longmans.     I  have  apprized  them  by  this  Post  of  the 
sort  of  informal  draft  you  are  to  present,  and  I  should  be  glad 


45 

if  you  would  defer  presenting  it  till  it  is  absolutely  necessary. 
The  Bill  your  brother  drew  was  for  money  he  let  me  have,  and 
has  nothing  to  do  with  any  debt  to  him,  which  I  took  care  not 
to  increase." 

Seven  Letters,  five    4  to.  one    franked    by  Mr.  Arkwright,    two 
8vo.  (one  of  three  sides),  2nd,  4th,  8th,  11th,  13th,  21st, 
and  28th  December,  1815 
"  I  have  not  felt  very  well  for  this  week  past,  and  sometimes 
think  I  have  symptoms  of  the  muscular  inflammation  in  my  side, 
which  laid  me  up  for  so  long  a  time  about  nine  years  ago,  as  I 
know  I  am  apt  to  be  fanciful,   it   may  perhaps  be  nothing  but 
imagination.     I  shall,  however,  apply  leeches  if  the  pain   con- 
tinues."    These  letters  are  chiefly  relative  to  Moore's  Sacred 
Songs.     "  I  have  not  been  out  of  my  own  demesne  more  than 
twice  these  three  weeks." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  two  8vo.  (one  of  two 
sides),  Sunday,  (1815) 
"  I  have  not  time  at  this  moment  to  give  you  half  the  thanks 
you  deserve  for  the  kind  and  feeling  account  you  have  indulged 
me  with  of  your  visit  to  my  dear  and  excellent  mother.  I  am 
quite  happy  that  she  saw  you,  because  I  know  what  a  comfort  it 
was  to  her — indeed  they  had  written  to  me  about  it,  before  I 
heard  from  you."  "  These  two  [Irish  Melodies']  are  Savourna 
Deelish,  and  Sweet  Harp  of  my  Country,  which  I  am  so  very 
anxious  about,  that  I  wish  to  keep  back  the  rest  of  them  till  the 
very  last  moment."  "  I  am  never  done  touching  and  retouching 
while  the  things  lie  by  me,  and  nothing  but  a  printer's  devil  at 
my  heels  ever  drives  me  into  finishing.  To  be  sure  with  copper 
plates  this  is  not  so  convenient,  but  you  must  be  prepared  for 
this  sort  of  proceeding,  when  we  come  to  our  literary  operations. 
My  Anacreon,  Little,  Post  Bag,  have  all  gone  to  press  before 
they  were  more  than  half  finished  ;  and  I  have  succeeded  well 
enough  in  all  not  to  make  me  wish  to  change  my  method." 
"  I  should  like  Wellington's  Song  in   the   middle,  and   Sweet 


46 

liar])  of  my  Country  of  course  the  last."     "  As  soou  as  1  have 
got  the  two  puzzles  of  the    Melodies  off  my  stomach  I  shall 
send  you  the  second  verses   of  these   Songs.      1  have  not  heen 
ahlc  yet  to  separate  Stevenson's    chaff  from   his  grain  in  the 
immense  mass  of  music-paper  he  has  scribbled  over."     "  If  the 
story  of  the  Leprechaun  ho  authentic,   keep   it  so — but  let  me 
know   whether  you  do   by  return  of  Post,  directed  to  me,  at 
Chatsworth,   Derbyshire,  as   1   must  mention  it  in  the  note  on 
the  Song.     I  send  you  a  Sacred  thing  to  keep  the  Leprechaun 
in  countenance."     "I   rather  fear  the  Cobler  is  too  vulgar  for 
the  style   of  my  Song.     I   wish  now  we  had  chosen  another 
subject."— [See  Crofton  Croker's  Fairy  Legends] 
Three  Letters,    8vo.    (one    of   three,  the  other    of  two  sides). 
Wednesday  evening,  two  undated,  (1815) 
"  I  like  the  second  sketch  very  much— indeed  1  like  both, 
and  the  figure  of  History  in  the  first  one  is  particularly  pretty 
— the   moment  too,  he  has  chosen,  excuses  the  triumphant  air 
of  Erin.      Upon  the  whole,  however,  I  think  I  prefer  the  second, 
and    seizing    the   most    prominent    feature    in    the   Song — the 
words  under  it  must  be 

1  She  saw  History  write, 
With  a  pencil  of  light, 
That  illumed  all  the  volume,  her  Wellington's  name.' 
I  am  afraid  that  you  will  cry  out  at  the  alterations  I  have  made 
in  '  When  first  I  saw'  — but  remember  they  are  to  be  put  down 
to    my    account."     "  It   is    very  amusing  to   think  of   Byron 
becoming  a   'sweet   singer  of  Israel,'— but  you  will  find  but 
little  of  the  poetry  actually  his."     Of  one  of  his  Sacred  Melodies 
Mr.  Moore  writes — "  You  may  send  words  and  all  to   Steven- 
son, as  they  are  married  indissolubly  together.     There  will  be 
several  verses  to  it.'      "  I  return  the  proofs  [of  the  Irish  Melo- 
dies'] I  must  have   a  revise  of  the  Advertisement,  which  has 
given  me  inconceivable   trouble.     I  had  a  long  rig-ma-role  in  it 
about  Wellington— in  which  I  said  that  it  was  at  your  request 


47 

I  wrote  the  Song  ;  but  that  of  course  I  did  it  with  '  all  my 
heart  and  soul,  &c.  &c.'  but,  after  twisting  it  into  a  thousand 
shapes  I  left  that  and  much  more  out."  "  I  will 'say  for  myself, 
there  never  was  a  fellow  left  more  completely  to  his  own  mother 
wit  in  these  things  than  I  am.  Y/hy  does  not  Stevenson 
solicit  something  ?  Lord  Byron  has  sent  me  a  song  to  set — 
very  beautiful,  but  devilish  hard  to  put  to  music."  "  I  have 
not  been  very  well  latterly,  continued  head-aches— I  should 
think  from  hard  fagg^g  ;  for  I  am  all  day  at  it."  "  I  am 
sorry  to  give  you  so  much  trouble  about  the  Preface,  tho'  it  is 
nothing  to  what  I  give  myself." 

Three  Letters,    4to.    (one    of    three  sides),    one   undated,    two 
"  Thursday  night"  (1815) 
"  I  find  Rogers  suspected  me  of  some  Epistle  there  has  been 
about  the  shows  in  the  Park  ;  but  I  have  written  nothing  since 
Blucher."     "  The  sixth  {Irish  Melody]   I  had  to  send  was, 
'  Comeyfy  to  this  bosom,'  which,  however,  I  am  doubtful  about 
retaining."     "  Pray,  do  not  let  the  engraver  put  in  the  words 
in   the  first  verse  of  the  Duett  beginning,  '  Go  then,  deceiver, 
go,'  as  I  think  I  shall  alter  these  four  lines."      "  I  send  you  a 
Sacred  Melody,  which   I   have  taken  from  Haydn,  with  altera- 
tions of  my   own."     "  I   could  not  help  putting    the    words, 
'  Should  any  one,'  &c.  under  the  Prince's  Song  ;  however,  I  do 
not  at  all  insist  upon  your  keepingfthis  in.     If  the  verses  are 
allowed  to  stand  it  is  the  most  I  can  expect.     I  have  a  piece  of 
friendship  to  tell  you,  very  unlike  the  high  promising  hollow- 
ness  of  certain   friends   of  mine.     You   have  often  heard  me 
speak    of   Douglas.     {John   Erskine   Douglas   was   appointed 
Captain   of  II.M.S.    Boston   in  December  1797,    and  Rear- 
Admiral  Commander-in-Chief  at  Jamaica,  6th  January,  1815, 
which  command  he  held  until  the  end  of  181  7 ■  ]     He  has  just 
been  appointed  Admiral  on  the  Jamaica   Station,   and   the  first 
thing  he  did  was  to  offer  me  the  Secretaryship.     The  salary  is 
something  under  five  hundred  a  year,  but  the  perquisites,  even 


•is 

in  peace,  are  considerable,  and  if  the  Devil  should  put  it  into 
Madison's  head  to  carry  on  the  war,  it  would  be  a  fortune  to 
me.  He  has  also  told  me  there  is  a  house  there  for  the  Ad- 
miral, with  nearly  100  acres  of  land,  which  is  all  quite  at  my 
service,  and  I  may  take  out  Bessy  to  it.  Is  not  this  kind  ?  is 
it  not  courageous,  too,  considering  the  sort  of  interest  by  which 
Douglas  has  got  his  appointment?  He  is  a  sterling  fellow.  I 
have  written,  however,  to  decline  it,  as  we,"  &c. 

"  And  to  tell  you  the  truth,  my  dear  friend,  I  look  to  the 
plan  which  you  and  I  have  between  us,  as  an  equally  abundant 
source  of  emolument,  with  greater  comfort  and  less  risk.  The 
Duke  of  Devonshire  has  asked  us  to  Chatsworth.  I  shall  go 
for  two  or  three  days,  but  Bessy  does  not  like  such  operations." 
"That  paragon  of  honest  fellows,  Douglas."  "  Pray,  let  Mr. 
Benison  correct  the  spelling  of  '  Cuisklak  ma  chree'  according 
to  Dr.  Kelly,  and  likewise  procure  the  name  of  '  Has  sorrow 
thy  young  days,'  as  I  have  just  hunted  through  all  my  music 
for  Kelly's  book  and  cannot  find  it." 

118  One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  31st  January,  1815 

Memoirs,  No.  318. 

119  One  Letter,  4to.  (four  sides),  (1815) 

Memoirs,  No.  319. 

Sixteen  lines  on  the  third  side  and  four  lines  on  the  back  of 
this  letter  omitted  by  his  Lordship.  "  Don't  you  think  it 
would  be  a  good  plan  to  send  all  the  words  I  write  to  selected 
Airs  over  to  Stevenson,  and  let  him  try  his  hand  at  them.  If 
he  succeeds,  I  can  write  other  words  to  the  selected  Air,  and 
there  is  so  much  gained.  If  not,  we  can  leave  it  as  it  was — 
but  pretty  airs  are  such  an  object,  we  should  try  every  means  to 
get  them.  Do  not  tell  Stevenson,  however,  there  is  an  Air 
already  to  what  you  send,  or  it  will  make  him  careless.  Bessy 
joins  me  in  entreaty  that  as  soon  as  your  dear  Jean  is  able  to 
travel  she  may  come  down  to  us  and  take  a  month  or  two  of 
country  air — which  I   have   no  doubt  will  do  her  great  service. 


49 

We  shall  nurse  her,  you  may  be  sure,  as  if  she  were  our  own. 
Now  pray  think  seriously  of  this.  Bessy  will  be  delighted  to 
have  her." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  30th  May,  1815 
Memoirs,  No.  329. 

This  letter  bears    Mr.    Power's   endorsement,    "July    Sth^ 
1815,"  but  the  Postmark  establishes  the  date  of  its  receipt 
in  London,  to  be  5th  June. 
One  Letter,  4  to.  (two  sides),  Sunday  (December  1 9th,  1815) 
Memoirs,  No.  338. 

One  Letter,  8vo.  (two  sides),  Monday  night  (1815) 

Memoirs,  No.  339. 

Two  lines  omitted  by  his  Lordship.  "  I  sent  off  the  proofs 
by  Pickford  last  night."  The  fourth  line  of  the  verses  altered 
"  hold  (bend)  my  flight"  struck  through. 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.,   one  8vo.   (three  sides),   1st,  28th,  and 
—  January,  1816 

"  As  for  myself  I  have  got  quite  well  again."  "  Just  now 
I  am  at  the  very  end  of  my  tether."  "  My  conscience  is  very 
well  satisfied  with  the  way  I  have  performed  my  task  for  you. 
You  have  here,  I  think,  the  purest  and  most  perfect  little  col- 
lection of  poems  I  have  ever  written,  and  I  only  hope  the 
Public  may,  for  your  sake,  agree  with  me  in  opinion ;  I  mean 
to  dedicate  the  Number  to  Dalton.  I  have  discovered  since  I 
wrote  last  an  error  in  the  words  of  Lord  Byron's  '  Farewell" 
by  Stevenson,  which  would  annoy  the  Noble  Bard  if  he  saw  it. 
'  For  others  weal  availed  on  earth,''  should  be  '  availed  on 
high:  "  "  I  must  tell  you  a  trait  of  this  Upholsterer:  two  or 
three  months  ago  I  called  upon  him  at  Derby  to  chuse  a  music- 
stand  for  my  room.  After  I  had  chosen  the  one  I  liked,  or 
rather  indeed  asked  whether  he  could  not  make  one  cheaper 
for  me,  the  poor  fellow  said,  blushing  and  stammering,  '  Mr. 
Moore,  if  you  will  do  me  the  favour  to  accept  of  that  trifle 

E 


50 

from  me,  as  a  small  mark  of  my  esteem  for  your  character,  I 
shall  consider  it  as  the  greatest  favour  you  can  do  me.'  I  did 
not  hesitate,  of  course  ;  these  things  arc  very  gratifying." 

Four  Letters,   three  4to.,  one  8vo.,  8th,   12th,  15th,   and   18th 
February,  1816 
"  I  am  going  to  give  on  Wednesday  my  annual  dinner  to  the 
natives  here — indeed,  the  smallness  of  our  table  will  force  me, 
I  fear,  to  make  two  dinners  of  it — and  I  want  you  to  send  me 
off  by  to-morrow's  night  Mail  a  Barrel  of  Oysters  and  three  or 
four  Lobsters,  which    will  arrive  on  Tuesday  and  be  ready  to 
take  the  field  on  Wednesday  evening.     The  Fish  for  Dinner  I 
think   I  can  get  good  enough  here,   and  certainly  cheaper." 
"  I  wish  you  would  send  to  Longman  for  '  Paul's  Letters  to  his 
Kinsfolk '   for  me,  and   if  Murray  has   not  already  forwarded 
Hunt's  '  Rimini '  to  me,  they  can  come  together." 

Five  Letters,  three  4  to.,  two  Svo.  (one  of  three  sides),  14th, 
21st,  23rd,  2/th  and  31st  March,  181G 
"  Poor  Lord  Byron  !  I  begin  to  think  you  had  better  per- 
haps publish  his  Song  with  Stevenson's  Music,  for  I  should 
suppose  he  would  not  wish  the  words  any  longer  delayed  from 
the  Public."  "The  fish  you  sent  was  excellent,  I  assure  you 
my  name  as  a  dinner-giver  has  gone  far  and  wide  on  the  strength 
of  it.  The  lobster  particularly  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  No 
one  here  ever  saw  so  large  a  one,  and  I  have  heard  more  than 
once  since  of  my  'Lobster  as  big  as  myself?'"  "  We  had  a 
charity  ball  in  Ashbourne  on  Tuesday,  of  which  I  was  steward, 
and  I  am  to  be  in  the  chair  at  the  Lancaster  anniversary  at 
Derby  on  the  30th,  so  you  see  what  I  am  promoted  to,"  "ac- 
tually smoked  out  of  our  house."  "  The  poor  man  at  the 
inn  (whose  charity  ball  was  last  week),  has  just  sent  me  in  a 
small  account  of  about  six  pounds,  if  you  could  conveniently  send 
me  so  much  before  Sunday — for  I  believe  he  is  much  distressed." 
"  I   lost  half  my  last  night's  sleep  in  fidgetting  over  the  possi- 


51 

bility  of  your  having  already  distributed  some  copies  of  tins 
Song."  "  How  could  you  think  that  I  would  take  away  the 
compliment  of  the  Dedication  from  Dalton,  or  that  Bessy 
would  accept  of  it,  so  transferred  ?"  "  I  hope  you  drank  our 
healths  on  the  marriage  anniversary,  last  Monday."  "  I  have 
promised  to  dedicate  '  Oh  yes — when  the  bloom  of  Love's  boy- 
hood,' to  Miss  Strutt." 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.  (both  of  two  sides),  and  one  folio, 
11th,  14th,  and  22nd  April,  1816,  (the  latter  franked  by 
Mr.  Arkwright) 

"You   really  are  to  be  pitied.     Your  Poet   140  miles  off, 
your  Composer  300,  and  your  poor  assistant  Benison  lying  ill — 
no  one  else  would  bear  it  with  half  so  much  patience."  "It  was 
very  lucky  you  sent  me  the  former  revises  of  the  letterpress 
with  the  last  ones,  for  I  find  that  the  Printer  had  the  unac- 
countable stupidity  to  put  instead  of  '  The  Star  of  its  Worship' 
— The  Star  of  its  HoRA&zp.     One  would  think  he  was  looking 
at  the   caricature  you  sent  me,  for  the  star  of  his  Horseship 
would  be  very  appropriate  there — but  there  is  no  such  thing  as 
trusting  printers.     I  suppose  my  hand-writing  misled  him." 
':  You  have  not  said  what  you  thought  of  my  grand  exhibition 
at  Derby  ?"     "  The  impudence  of  that   scribbler  Fitzsimons  is 
quite  amusing."    Sends  dedication  of  the  first  number  of  Sacred 
Songs  to  Edward  Tuite  Dalton,  Esq.     "  As  I  exp?cted  I  am 
obliged  to  give  another  dinner  to  clear  off  my  debts  here.     You 
cannot  conceive  what  a  Dr.  and  Cr.  account  they  keep  of  din- 
ners."    "  My  number  at  dinner  is  six — a  Baronet  and  an  M.P. 
the  chief  dignitaries !  is' nt  salmon  very  good  just  now?" 

Two   Letters.     One  4  to.,   one   8vo.     Thursday,    and   May  30, 

1816 

"  Athenaeum,   Thursday.     "  I  came  to  town  last  night  and 

have  just  been   to   Longmans  where  I  have    '  done   the  deed,' 

and  you  shall  have  the  money  to-morrow."     [See  Lord  John 

E   2 


52 

Russell's  note  in  Memoirs,  Vol.  II.  p.  110.]  "  Bessy  wants  a 
set  of  the  Irish  Melodies,  as  those  I  gave  her  before  we  were 
married  are  grown  too  old  and  too  precious  for  use." 

Three  Letters,  -Ho.    (one  of  three   sides)   Gth,   13th,  and   21th 
June,  181G 
"  I  hear  rumours  of  war  from  Dublin,  between  you  and  the 
Knight,  and  you  and  your  brother.     Is  there  any  further  pro- 
gress in  hostilities  since  I  left  you  ?  "      "I  am  in  a  most  ner- 
vous state  of  anxiety  about  our  next  number  of  Irish  Melodies, 
for  we  are  sadly  off  for  materials.      I  must  have  Bunting's  two 
volumes  to  look  over  and  Thomson's  first"      "  I  wish  you  to 
have  the  name  '  Bessy'  cancelled  in  the  last  verse  of  the  '  Sale 
of  Loves,'  and  '  Susan'  put  in  its  place.      My  happiness  is   (as 
they  say)  '  too  true  to  put  in  a  Ballad  ! '  "      "  The  collections 
you  have  lent  me  (particularly  Doctor  Kelly's)  have  given  me 
more  confidence  about  our  next  number."     On  the  other  side 
are  the  remaining  verses  of  "  Reason  and  Folly  and  Beauty." 
[Four  verses  follow. ] 

Five  Letters,  four  4to.,  one  8vo.  (of  three  sides),  1st,  1  Gth, 
31st  July,  Monday  Nt.,  and  Tuesday  Nt.  1816 
"  Your  Prospectus  or  Advertisement  you  should  have  had 
sooner— but  that  I  have  some  doubt  about  the  policy  of  appear- 
ing so  anxious  for  subscribers  to  the  work.  Any  great  desire 
for  subscription  always  looks  too  like  a  diffidence  in  the  attrac- 
tion of  the  work  to  purchasers — however,  if  you  think  any 
object  is  to  be  gained  by  it  you  must  know  better  than  I,  the 
effect  of  these  things — only  I  have  always  perceived  that  when 
a  book  is  well  established  in  public  favour  there  is  never  much 
anxiety  shewn  about  subscribers — of  all  this,  however,  you  are 
the  best  judge." 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  right  to  say  '  Moore's  Irish 
Melodies,  over  the  Advertisement?  there  arc  so  many  now." 
"I    have  paid  my  rent  this   day — twenty   pounds,  which    I 


53 

nursed  up  since  I  left  London,  and  have  at  the  same  time, 
given  six  months'  notice  of  quitting  my  cottage.  So  that  you 
see  I  am  determined  to  pass  the  winter  with  you."  "  Heartily, 
most  heartily  sorry  am  I  that  the  die  is  cast,  and  that  you  are 
indeed  become  'belligerent  Powers?  instead  of  keeping  to  that 
1  Uoly  Alliance'  which  Nature  meant  between  you.  But  there 
is  no  help  for  it  now.  What  I  write  principally  for  is  to  beg 
that  you  will  bring  a  copy  of  Fitzsimon's  second  number  with 

you." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.,  two  8vo.,  11th,  14th,  19th,  and  Monday 
Night,  August,  1816  • 
"  I  wish  you  would  look  at  a  house  I  see  advertised,  No.  2, 
in  the  street  off  Grosvenor  Place,  where  Raymond  lives,  and 
let  me  know  the  terms,  &c."  "We  expect  Rogers  here  the 
day  after  to-morrow,  and  I  am  afraid  he  will  insist  upon  my  going 
on  with  him  to  the  Lakes  for  two  or  three  days."  "  Rogers  has 
been  with  us  for  the  greater  part  of  last  week,  and  it  was  with 
some  difficulty  and  much  regret  on  both  sides  that  I  got  off 
going  with  him  to  the  Lakes  of  Cumberland  ;  but  I  could  not 
spare  the  time,  and  besides  Bessy  is  ordered  for  a  week  or  a 
fortnight  to  Matlock  or  Buxton."  "  I  wish  you  would  send 
to  Hone,  the  bookseller  (in  Fleet  St.,  I  believe,  he  who  pub- 
lished something  of  Lord  Byron's)  for  half  a  dozen  copies  of 

«  Lines  on  the  Death  of ,  from  the  Morning  Chronicle.' 

They  are  mine,  and  I  find  from  my  friend  Rogers,  have  made  a 
great  noise."  "  Tired  as  I  am  after  an  excursion  to  Dove-dale 
with  our  young  friend  Grierson.  I  have  contrived  to  copy  out 
my  weekly  task  for  you."  "We  go  to  Matlock  for  a  few  days 
on  Wednesday." 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.   (one  of  two  sides)  one  8vo.  (two  sides), 

2nd,  12th,  and  29th  September,  1816 

"Matlock.     With  much  difficulty  I  have  got  a  pen  and  ink 

to  scrawl  you  a  line,  which  I  fear  you  will  take  for  Stevenson's, 

from  the  penmanship  of  it."    i(  This  place  is  very  pleasant,  but 


54 

we  shall  leave  it  the  day  after  to-morrow."  "  I  send  you  the  two 
I  promised,  I  have  a  good  many  more  verses  to  '  Ladies  eyes.' 
What  is  the  real  name  of  this  Air?"  [Fague  a  Ballagii  — 
a  phrase  now  applied  to  the  88th  Regiment. ~\  Sends  two 
verses  : 

"He  was  wandering  from  virtue,  from  peace,  and  from  fame, 
Nor  knew  what  he  sunk  to,  so  flowery  the  fall." 

Tour  Letters,  three  4 to.  (one  three  and  one  two  sides),  one  Svo. 
(three  sides),  10th,  14th,  20th,  and  30th  Octohcr,  181 G 
"  Derby."  "  I  have  only  time  to  say  that  here  I  am  in  the 
thick  of  the  Music  meeting,  and  (what  is  hetter)  here  is  Sir 
John  Stevenson  too.  He  goes  hack  with  me  to  the  Cottage  on 
Friday  or  Saturday."  "  Sir  John  came  with  me  here  (May- 
field  Cottage)  on  Saturday,  and  we  have  hecn  at  work  ever 
since.  We  have  done  *  Silently  Sleeps.'  '  This  earth  is  the 
planet.'  '  Hark  the  Vesper  hymn.'  '  Tell  me  not  of  Eden's 
howers.'  '  The  banquet  is  over ' — and  I  have  written  a  few 
anonymous  words  for  him  to  one  of  his  own  duetts."  Enquiries 
respecting  Sir  John's  son.  "  I  never  ceased  courting  Mrs. 
lloht.  Arkwright  at  the  Musical  Festival  on  the  suhject  of  her 
Songs  for  you."  "  I  open  my  letter  to  add,  that  we  must  like- 
wise inflict  upon  you  the  trouble  of  going  to  Stevenson's 
Slaughter  House  in  St.  Martin's  Lane  to  enquire  if  there  are 
any  letters  for  him."  "  I  send  you  the  following  things  which 
Stevenson  has  arranged  within  these  few  days.  '  The  banquet 
is  over  '  '  This  earth  is  the  planet.'  "  and  eight  more  are  named. 
"  Which  three  [last]  (he  bids  me  tell  you),  with  the  two  above 
mentioned  Sacred  Melodies  "  ['  Go  forth  to  the  Mount  '  and 
'  TVeep  Children  of  Israel'  ("written  by  me  and  compared  by 
him  within  this  week")'],  and  the  nineteen  he  sent  you  by  Mr. 
Rawlins  from  Derby,  make  up  his  Number  of  twenty-four." 
"  Between  ourselves,  the  worthy  knight  has  brought  a  most 
troublesome  house  about  my  cars.  His  son  has  now  been  with 
us  for  a  week,  and  unless  you  contrive  to  urge   Sir  John  to 


leave  town,  he  is  likely  to  continue  as  much  longer,  which  will 
be  such  a  tax  on  my  time  and  patience  as  I  really  shall  but  very 
ill  be  able  to  bear.  In  addition  to  all  this,  the  Lambarts  have 
arrived  [from  Lord  Talbot's  in  Staffordshire]  to  see  young 
Stevenson  to-night,  and  they  dine  with  us  to-morrow,  and  I 
should  not  at  all  wonder  if  they  too  took  a  fancy  to  their  quar- 
ters and  remained  here  till  Stevenson's  arrival — so  pray  do  hurry 
him  out  of  town,  or  I  shall  be  ruined.  I  tell  you  all  this  in 
perfect  confidence,  but  time  is  just  now  so  precious  to  me,  that 
some  thing  must  be  done  to  free  me  from  tbese  very  inconsi- 
derate visitors." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (three  sides),  5th  November,  IS  16 

Sends  Dedications  of  'Oft  in  the  Stilly  night,'  and  other 
Songs  done  "  during  his  [Sir  John  Stevenson's']  last  moments 
here  "  [at  Mayfield  Cottage]  to  Miss  Caroline  Strutt,  to  Miss 
Isabella  Strutt,  and  to  Miss  Selena  Cooper.  "  His  boat  glee  is 
to  be  inscribed  to  Miss  Cooper." 

"  When  you  are  sending  me  down  the  Reviews  ge  Philipp's 
Garland  for  Sheridan,  and  let  it  come  with  them."  "  Stevenson 
has  bad  the  magnificence  to  make  me  a  present— at  least  I  think 
he  means  it  so.     You  are  to  order  for  me  next  door  to  your 
house,  four  cravats  of  the  same  pattern  he  got  tbere.     One  of 
them  was  spotted  with  a  kind  of  rose-bud,  and  another  with  a 
little  purplish  spot.  They  were  to  be  put  down  to  his  account." 
Mr.  Moore  to  Mrs.  Power  (during  Mr.  Power's  absence  in  Dublin). 
Two  letters,  4to.  2nd  and  28th  December,  1816 
"  I  have  had  a  letter  from  Mr.  Power,  and  am  delighted  to 
find  that  the  business  between  him  and  his  brother  is  likely  to 
be  settled  by  arbitration." 

Five  letters,  three  4to.  (one   of  three,  and  one  of  four  sides). 

Thursday  Night,  Saturday  Night,  three  undated,  1816 

"  Indeed,  my  chief  reason  for  wishing  to  go  to  town  was, 

the  thought  that  I  might  be  instrumental  in  bringing  you  and 

Stevenson  to  more  amicable  feelings  towards  each  other."  Copies 


5G 

of  "Almighty  God,  when  round  thy  Shrine,"  published  in  the 
Sacred  Songs,  and  "The  Sale  of  Loves."  "  Only  I  know  you 
are  not  a  sarcastic  fellow,  at  least  to  me,  I  should  have  sus- 
pected something  of  the  kind  lurking  in  the  first  sentence  of 
your  last  letter,  where  you  hoped  that  the  •  recovery  from  the 
fatigues  of  my  dinner  parties  (one  of  them  about  six  weeks 
since)  would  enable  me  soon  to  send  the  Ballads  I  had  pro- 
mised.' You  shall  have  the  Ballads  and  myself  along  with 
them  on  Sunday  next,  and  we  shall  I  hope  crack  a  bottle  over 
the  birth  of  the  Sacred  Songs  before  I  leave  you."  "With  re- 
ference to  Mr.  Philip  Crampton's  words,  for  a  duett  by  Sir 
John  Stevenson,  entitled  "  Peace,"  Mr.  Moore  writes — "As  to 
what  Stevenson  says  about  the  Duke  of  Dorset,  the  words  are 
not  so  meant  by  any  means.  They  allude  (though  certainly 
rather  confusedly)  to  the  Duchess's  signing,  with  Lord  Whit- 
worth,  the  short  peace  of  1802." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (two  sides),  14th  January,  181(5 
Memoirs,  No.  342. 
Three  lines  at  the  end  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

One  Letter,  4to.  24th  September,  18 1G 

Memoirs,  No.  359. 
One  Letter,  8vo.  (two  sides),  1st  October,  181 G 

Memoirs,  No.  3 GO. 

Two  lines  in  the  body  of  the  letter,  with  five  after  the  signa- 
ture omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

After  the  Melodies.  "  Ilis  [Sir  John  Stevenson's]  letter 
(which  is,  to  be  sure,  a  unique)  is  inclosed."  "  Pray  send  the 
inclosed  as  soon  as  possible.  Mrs.  McMullin's  address  you 
have  somewhere  in  your  books,  it  is  Hercules  Buildings, 
Lambeth,  I  think." 

Three  Letters,  4to.  2nd,  4th,  and  22nd  January,  1817 

"  I  have  just  been  suffering  scarification  over  my  left  temple, 
and  have  lost  between  three  and  four  ounces  of  blood  for  a 


57 

troublesome  pain  I  had  had  for  some  time  in  my  head,  which 
the  medical  men  both  here  [Berhj]  and  at  Ashbourne  say  has 
proceeded  from  too  intense  application."  "  The  pain  in  my 
head  returned  again  last  night,  and  I  suppose  I  must  lose  a 
good  deal  more  blood — it  is  unfortunate  I  should  be  troubled 
with  any  thing  in  my  head  just  now  when  I  have  such  urgent 
demand  for  all  its  exertions." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  two  8vo.  February 
8th,  and  26th,  28th,  and  31st  March,  1817 

"  I  have  not  yet  looked  at  the  proofs,  but  shall  endeavour  to 
send  those  you  want  for  Stevenson  immediately,  and  shall  take 
the  rest  with  me  to  town  myself  the  tvee/c  after  next  when  I  go 
to  put  my  Poem  [Lalla  Rookh]  to  press,  and  take  a  house  some- 
where near  London  till  it  is  published.  I  do  not  mean  to 
carry  up  my  live  luggage  till  I  have  the  house  ready  to  put 
them  in.  I  got  the  £5  quite  safe,  and  it  has  kept  the  devil 
out  of  my  pocket  these  few  weeks  past — but  I  am  now  obliged 
to  draw,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  most  of  the  sum  goes  to  pay  the 
Longmans  what  I  lately  extracted  from  them,  till  I  see  whether 
there  is  likely  to  be  any  evasion  about  the  Terms  of  the  Poem. 
If  they  hesitate  you  and  I  will  print  it  ourselves." 

"  I  feel  quite  sure  you  will  not  press  me  now  (in  the  crisis  of 
my  fate)  more  than  is  absolutely  necessary,  nor  oblige  me  to 
bring  out  the  Number  in  a  state  I  do  not  perfectly  approve  of. 
In  addition  to  the  feelings  of  kindness  I  know  you  have  for  me, 
it  would  evidently  not  be  your  own  interest  to  do  so,  as  if  I  fail 
in  my  great  wTork  I  shall  still  have  my  fame  in  the  lyrical  way 
to  retire  upon  ;  but,  if  I  should  so  unluckily  contrive  it,  as  at 
the  same  time  to  fail  in  both,  I  am  be-devilled,  and  you  with 
me.  You  may  depend,  however,  upon  my  doing  every  thing  to 
have  the  Number  out  as  soon  after  the  Poem  as  possible,  but  I 
am  the  more  anxious  to  have  it  good  from  looking  upon  it  as  a 
corps  de  reserve  for  my  fame,  in  case  the  main  attack  is  unsuc- 
cessful." "  I  have  just  given  my  tailor  a  draft  for  a£39  which 
he  will  present  to-morrow." 


58 

Eight  Letters,   two  4to.,  five  8vo.,  one  12mo.,   24th,  and  2Gth 
April,   6th,     10th,    14th,    loth,    21st,  and  3lst  May, 
1817.     One    of  two  sides,    dated    "  Hornscy,"   with  a 
draft  on  Mrs.  Branigan  for  £'20.  (never  presented). 
"  My  money  I  left  with  Mrs.  Branigan  to  take  care  of  for 
me."      "  I  have  not  heen  in   town  since  I  saw  you    except  on 
Saturday  last,  when  I  went   in  to  the  Royal  Academy  dinner." 
"I  helievc  I  am  to  he   announced  for   the  22nd,  so  you  may 
imagine  what  a  hustle  I  am  in."     "  Ahout  this  day  week  I  hope 
to  see  you  in  town  and  crack  a  hottle  with  you  to  Larry  Hook 
and  other  Irish  friends  of  ours."     "Will  you  and  Mrs.  Power 
come  out  and  dine  with   us   to-morrow  ?     You  know  our  hour 
(three  o'clock),  and  the  stage  will  take  you  hack  at  seven." 
Six  Letters,  one  4 to.  four,  8vo.,  one  12mo.  June  — ,  26th  August, 
10th,  18th,  19th,  (5G,  Davies  Street,)  and  20th  September, 
1817 
"  I  have  received  the  Edinburgh  Review,  full  of  praises  of 
Lalla  Rookh.     The   one   that  first  spoke  slightingly  (as  I  told 
you)  has  quite  altered  its  tone,  and  there  is  in  the  Journal  called 
'  The  Scotsman'  a  most  flattering  article."     "  We  think  Barhara 
a  little  better. "     "  Barhara  has   heen  this  morning  so  ill   that 
we  felt  seriously  alarmed — however,  the  medical  man  says  she 
is  not  worse."     "All's  over— my  dear  sir — we've  lost  our  poor 
Barhara,"  &c.     "You  will  find  us  here — where  we  are  more 
retired  (there  being  none  of  them  in  town)   than  we  could  be 
any  where  else.     May  I  trouble  you  to  lend  us  a  couple  of  table 
and  tea  spoons  and  a  couple  of  forks,"  &c.     "  May  I  ask  you 
to  have  the  inclosed  put  in  the  Morning  Chronicle,  Times,  and 
Courier  of  Monday  ?" 
Five  Letters,  three  4to.,  two  Svo. ,9th  October,  15th,  24th,  27th, 
and  30th  November,  1817.       One  with  beautiful  impres- 
sion of  the  Poet's  Seal,  ivith  Erin   go  bragii   above  the 
Irish  Harp. 
Wishes  Mr.  Power  to  accompany  Bessy  "in  the  Coach  down 


59 

to  Sittingbournc,  and  look  at  a  house  there  is  there  to  be  let?" 
"  Stotharcl   means   to  do   the  Willow   over  again,  and,  indeed, 

promised  to  have  it  ready  to-day. Rogers  says  the  two  other 

drawings  are  the  best  he  ever  saw  of  even  his  favourite  Stot- 
hard's,  and  wishes  you  would  dispose  of  them  to  him,  when  the 
engravings  are  taken."  Sends  new  words  to  "  the  Girl  I  left 
behind  me."  "  I  am  gradually  getting  into  some  sort  of  com- 
fort." "  I  shall  try  him  again  by  Tuesday's  post,  when  I  shall 
send  you  the  second  verse  of  '  Wreath  the  Bowl'  with  the  music. 
When  we  are  settled,  however,  I  think  we  shall  be  very  com- 
fortable  the    Green-house  has  been  left  in  statu  quo;    76 

plants  as  per  inventory."     [Post  marlc,  Devizes.] 

Four  Letters,  one  4to.,  three  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  3rd,  8th,  19th, 
and  29th  December,  1817  (see  11M  December,  1818) 
"  This  note  is  the  first  I  have  written  in  my  new  study, 
which  is  I  assure  you  very  neat  and  comfortable.  We  were  last 
night  till  very  late  getting  the  books  into  the  shelves."  Allud- 
ing to  an  air  composed  to  "  Tell  me  not,"  Moore  writes,  "  I 
think  it  is  the  sort  of  thing  Braham  would  like— if  he  will  sing 
any  thing  of  mine — and  at  all  events  you  had  better  try  him  with 
it."  "  I  am  glad  you  agree  to  my  decision  about  Steven- 
son, and  hope  it  will  all  end  as  amicably  as  I  wish  — but 
would'nt  it  have  been  better  of  you  to  tell  me  you  wanted  my 
opinion  in  writing,  as  a  document  1  because  that  would  have 
given  me  an  opportunity  of  wording  it  with  more  care  and 
strictness.  As  it  is,  there  is  nothing  in  what  I  wrote  to  you,  I 
believe  that  is  not  exactly  what  I  mean.  But  I  certainly  should 
like  that,  at  the  same  time  with  my  opinion  of  his  want  of  punc- 
tuality, there  should  likewise  stand  upon  record  what  I  thought 
of  your  otw-exactness,  if  you  had  held  him  down  rigorously  to 
the  strict  letter  of  his  agreement.  It  is  now,  however,  I  hope 
in  a  fair  way  of  being  settled— but  it  is  the  ill-blood  generated 
in  these  transactions  on  both  sides,  which  always  makes  it  so 
difficult   to  do  anything  with  them."      "  I   send  you  the  little 


GO 

Preface  [to  the  National  Airs]  which  I  hope  you  will  like. 
You  will  perceive,  that  I  have  made  a  pretty  direct  puff  in  it, 
and  I  rather  think  it  will  not  he  taken  wrongly.  If,  however, 
it  should  appear  to  you  too  strong,  it  will  be  very  easy  to  leave 
out  the  two  last  sentences  altogether,  and  end  with  the  words 
1  Ilippocrcne  with  its  Song.'  "  [This  passaye  did  appear,  but  is 
omitted  by  Mr.  Moore  in  his  Collected  JJrorks.~\  *'  The  Edin- 
burgh Article  is  come  out,  and  considering  that  Jeffery  had 
a  hard  card  to  play,  having  committed  himself  to  the  Public 
by  such  a  sweeping  condemnation  of  my  poetry  altogether,  I 
have  come  off  pretty  well.  Indeed  the  only  thing  he  seems  to 
complain  of  is  my  having  too  many  beauties." 

Six  Letters,  two  4to.,  three  8vo.,   one  irregular,  Monday  (two), 

Wednesday,  Saturday,  Saturday  Night,  and  one  undated 

1817 

"  Oft  in  the  stilly,  &c,  I  shall  take  up  with  me."      Parcel 

"to  be  folded  in  strong  paper  and  forwarded   by   the  mail  to 

Mr.  Jeffery  immediately."     "  Send  the  inclosed  to  Twiss,  and 

get  an  answer  if  you  can  to  it?       I  don't  know  his  direction, 

and  our  places  at  the  Theatre  to-morrow   night   depend  upon 

him."     "  I  am  obliged  to  go  off  to  the  Russell  Square  region  to 

enquire  about  the  Brauigans,  but   I  shall  be  with  you  at   four 

o'clock,    and  join   you  over  your  pot  duck,   if  you'll  let  me." 

"  We  have  left  our  keys  behind  us  in  the  bundle,  and  therefore 

shall  be  doomed  to  pass  the  night  in  a  lock  up  house,  if  you  do 

not  send  it  to  us  by  the  bearer."     "  We  shall  have  a  fine  life  of 

it  between  him  \_Mr.  William  Power]  and  Carpenter." 

One  Letter,  8vo.     8th  January,  1817 
Memoirs,  No.  362. 

Three  lines  in  the  body  and  two  at  top  omitted  by  his 
Lordship.  "  I  send  three  Irish  Melodies,  and  shall  make  a 
parcel  of  the  Proofs  as  soon  as  I  have  the  other  two  ready  for 
you."  "  I  must  trouble  you  to  pay  the  postage  of  the  inclosed 
for  me — it  is  for  Venice." 


61 

One  Letter,  4to.     18th  January,  1817 
Memoirs,  No.  364. 

[Memo,  by  Mr.  Power']   "  Bank   of  England   note  for  £5. 
dated  Nov.  8,  1816,  No.  4563." 
One  Letter,  4to.     Paris,  7th  August,  1817 
Memoirs,  No.  379. 
P.S.  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 
"  Pray  pay  the  inclosed  for  me." 
One  Letter,  4to.     19  th  November,  1817 
Memoirs,  No.  386. 

Eight  lines  in  the  body  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 
"  I  wish  you  would  immediately  on  receiving  this  go  to  the 
Morning  Chronicle  office  and  alter  my  direction  from  Calne  to 
Devizes.  Write  a  little  note  also  to  Mr.  Cruise,  newsman, 
72,  Little  Britain,  and  bid  him  direct  my  Examiner  to  Sloperton 
Cottage,  Devizes.  I  should  be  glad  also  if  you  would  any  time 
you  are  passing  by  Murray's  leave  my  proper  address  with  him — 
any  day  will  do  for  this,  but  pray  mind  about  the  others  im- 
mediately, and  bid  Cruise  send  the  Examiner  off  on  Sundays." 
One  Letter,  8vo.     20th  December,  1817 

Memoirs,  No.  387. 
One  Letter,  4to.     23rd  December,  1S17 
Memoirs,  No.  388. 
Eight  lines  omitted  by  his  Lordship. 

"As  to  the  dedication,  you  know  it  was  merely  under  con- 
sideration whether  I  should  dedicate  it  to  Lady  Lansdowne — 
and  I  rather  think  it  would  look  too  ready  with  my  homage  to 
the  noble  neighbours,  and  that  I  shall  not  dedicate  to  anv  one." 
"  I  find  I  omitted  inclosing  tine  notes  of  the  worthy  Father  and 
Son — but  they  shall  go  in  my  next." 
Five  Letters,  four   4to.   (one  of  two  sides),   one  Svo.  (unsigned, 
two  sides),    oth,    12th,   21st,   27th,   and  31st   January, 
1818 
"  The  air  of  '  a  Temple  to  Friendship'   is  a  Waltz,  but  of 


62 

what  country  1  don't  know.      You  could  easily   find  ont  by 
enquiring.    It  is  in  these  things  we  miss  poor  Bennison.  We  are 
going  on  Monday  to  pass  a  day  or  two  at  my  friend  Bowler's, 
and  I  expect  to  make  use  of  him   in  finding  out  for  me  some 
good  sacred  airs."     "  Lady  Lansdowne  has  so  won  me  over  by 
her  good  nature  to  Bessy,  that  I  mean  after  all  to  dedicate  the 
book   to  her.     I  told  her,  however,  she  should  have  the  Songs 
to  look   over,    before    she    committed  herself  as   Dedicatee." 
Mentions  a  long  letter  from  Lady  Flint  about  her  compositions 
to  Lalla  Rookh.     Corrections  to  "Dost  thou  remember,"  and 
"Oh  come  to  me."     "  I  was  surprised  on  Sunday  by  a  letter 
from  your  brother's  Attorney,  giving  me  notice  of  my  attendance 
being  necessary  in   February  at   the  trial  of  his  action  against 
you.     This  is   sad  work  every  way,  and  will  be  devilish  incon- 
venient to  myself — besides  the  real   and  deep  regret  I  feel  at 
the  explosion  between  you.     Lady  Lansdowne  is  coming  to  call 
on  Bessy  this  morning,  when  I  mean  to  play  the  airs  to  her." 
"  We  expect  Mrs.  Branigan  down  on  a  farewell  visit  some  time 
soon.     You  know,  I  suppose,  they  are  going  to  Jamaica  for  two 
years."     Sends  dedication  to   the  Marchioness  of  Lansdowne. 
"I    am    in    great    alarm    about   our    Seventh    Number    [Irish 
Melodies],  in  the  first  place  I  miss  one  in  the  set  which  you 
sent  me,  which  I  particularly  wish  to  keep,  that  is,   '  Shake  the 
tears  from  thy  harp,  let  the  light  of  its  Song.'    In  the  next  place 
I  cannot  reconcile  myself  to  keeping  '  When  the  cold  earth  lies 
over,'  though  they  are  some  of  my  best  words  ;  but  they  go  so 
cursedly  ill  to  that  tune.     In  the  third  place  you  have  printed 
the  two   different   sets  of  words  I  sent   you  for    '  the   Girl  I 
left  behind   me'   together.     When  I  wrote  the  words  beginning 
'Against  the  wind  her  foaming  track,'  I   meant  that  the  former 
ones  beginning  '  Tho'  joy  in  every  land  may   cheer,'   should  be 
entirely  cancelled.     For   God   sake  look   for   '  Shake   the  'tear 
from   thy   harp,'   as  I  tremble1  for  the  success  of  the  Number 
unless    we    make  it   much   better  than   it."      "  When  vou  are 


63 

advertising  the  National  Melodies,  do  not  put '  dedicated  to,  &c.' 
as  it  always  looks  puffy  and  vulgar." 

Three  Letters,  4to.  (two  of  two  sides).  Gth,  21st,  and  28th 
February,  1818 
With  reference  to  numerous  cancels  Mr.  Moore  writes, 
"  You  may  easily  suppose  it  would  be  much  less  trouble  to  me 
to  let  it  go  out  as  it  is  without  racking  my  brains  to  improve  it ; 
but  my  anxiety  for  the  reputation  of  the  work  is  predominant 
over  every  other  feeling."  "  Let  me  have  Philipp's  second 
letter  to  the  Edinburgh  Review  published  by  Hone."  "  What 
Stevenson  now  proposes,"  &c,  (he  being  much  in  want  of  money), 
&c.  "  it  will  give  great  pleasure  to  hear  that  the  matter  is  finally 
settled,  as  we  have  had  God  knows  enough  of  wrangling  — 
enough  to  disgust  me  almost  with  what  has  hitherto  been  the 
pleasantest  pursuit  of  my  life,  and  to  incline  me  very  much  to 
give  it  up  altogether."  "  Wishing  success  to  whatever  side 
right  is  upon,  and  trusting,"  &c.  "  A  letter  which  I  received 
yesterday  induces  me  (though  it  was  my  intention  not  to  agi- 
tate this  matter  till  after  our  approaching  settlement)  to  ask 
you  whether  it  is  truly  and  sincerely  your  wish  to  renew  the 
agreement  that  has  been  between  us,  on  the  same  terms  and  for 
the  same  time.  I  have  no  other  object  in  asking  this  question 
than  merely  that  it  may  enable  me  to  answer  more  satisfac- 
torily rather  an  important  suggestion  that  has  just  been  made  to 
me  by  a  friend  of  mine— therefore  if  you  think  your  answering 
it  would  commit  you,  in  any  respect,  further  than  you  wish,  the 
matter  is  not  so  urgent  but  that  I  can  wait  your  own  time  with 
patience — particularly,  as  it  is  not  my  intention  to  decide  upon 
any  thing  till  after  the  settlement  of  my  present  account 
with  you.  Whatever  may  be  your  determination  or  my  own 
I  trust  nothing  wi  1  ever  disturb  the  friendly  intercourse  be- 
tween us  so  long.  You  will  always  find  me  ready  to  acknow- 
ledge with  gratitude,  the  liberality,  promptitude,  and  friend- 
liness   of  your   dealings   with    me.     As    to  your    transactions 


6  1 

with  your  brother,  that  is  another  concern,  and  I  have  seen 
much  on  both  sides  to  lament  and  disapprove  of.  But  with 
respect  to  your  conduct  to  me,  I  am  glad  to  have  an  opportu- 
nity of  thus  putting  upon  record,  that  up  to  this  moment  (with 
the  single  exception  of  your  a/Ver-thought  of  a  deduction  from 
my  annuity — (a  circumstance  which  I  myself  do  not  see  in  half 
so  unfavourable  a  light  as  some  of  my  friends),  I  have  ex- 
perienced nothing  from  you  but  the  most  ready  liberality,  the 
most  kind  attentions  and  the  most  considerate  toleration  of  my 
irregularity  and  delays.  This  is  the  language,  altogether, 
which  I  hold  to  every  one,  in  speaking  of  your  conduct  to  me, 
and  I  trust  I  never  shall  have  reason  to  recall  a  single  word 
of  it." 

Six  Letters,  four  4to.,  two  8vo.,  4th,  9th,  13th,  24th,  28th  and 
30th  March,  1818 
"  I  am  sadly  vexed  to  find  Stevenson  has  not  written  the 
new  accompaniment  to  the  single  voice  (it  will  not  require  any 
alteration  as  harmonized)  of  '  "Wreath  the  Bowl.'  He  pro- 
mised me  most  faithfully  he  would,  and  it  was  only  on  that 
promise  that  I  let  him  off  the  evening  we  looked  over  them 
together."  "  Why  don't  you  announce  the  National  Mclodiesin 
the  Newspapers.  Is  this  the  name  you  have  determined  on  ? 
I  should  rather  have  preferred  (what  I  believe  I  called  them  at 
first),  '  Airs  of  all  Countries,'  or  something  perhaps  shorter 
than  this — but  I  suppose  the  title's  engraving.  Do  you  see  a 
new  book  by  Thomas  Brown  announced  in  the  Papers  1  What 
a  dreadful  account  of  your  Strand  Fire !''  "  Returns  proofs  of 
7th  Number  Irish  Melodies,  except  '  They  may  rail  at  this 
life,'  for  which  I  must  have  another  second  verse,  if  I  can  pos- 
sibly hit  upon  one  to  please  me,  and  many  is  the  attempt  I 
have  made.  —  It  will,  I  believe,  be  a  pretty  Number  after  all — 
The  words  are  certainly  as  good  as  any.  Luck  attend  it  and 
all  you  undertake  is  sincerely  the  wish  of  yours,  Sec.''  "  It 
would  be  a  great   case   to  my  mind  to  leave  out  '  They  may 


rail  at  this  life,'  but  it  will  be  such  a  gem  in  the  Number,  if  I 
cau  finish  it  properly,  that  I  will  certainly  not  indulge  my  idle- 
ness by  rejecting  it."  "  After  many  attempts  (so  many  as 
would  surprise  you)  I  have  found  that  my  first  idea  of  the 
second  verse  for  '  They  may  rail  at  this  life'  was  much  better 
than  I  have  since  been  able  to  strike  out,  and  accordingly  with 
some  alteration  in  the  four  last  lines,  it  is  to  stand  pretty  much 
as  it  was  before. — Has  the  Arbitrator  made  his  award?  I  have 
been  anxious,  but  almost  fearful  to  ask  about  it." 

Five  Letters,  three  4to.,  two  8vo.,  12th,  14th,  16th,  19th  and 
25th  May,  1818  .  . 
"  It  has  occurred  to  me  since  I  came  down  that  we  must 
have  a  Preface  to  the  7th  Number,  and  it  is  odd  neither  of  us 
thought  of  it  before.  You  shall  have  it  in  a  day  or  two.  I 
have  got  a  most  valuable  correspondent  and  contributor  for 
our  future  Melodies — a  Mr.  Croker,  near  Cork,  who  has  just 
sent  me  thirty-four  Airs,  and  a  very  pretty  drawing  of  a  cele- 
brated spot  in  his  neighbourhood.  He  promises  me  various 
traditions  too,  and  sketches  of  the  scenery  connected  with 
them.  All  which  will  be  of  the  greatest  service  to  us."  "  I 
shall  set  out  for  Ireland  on  Monday." — "  What  an  extraordi- 
nary decision  this  is !  I  cannot  understand  it,  tho'  I  own  I 
feared  all  along  something  unfavourable  to  you.  My  only  hesi- 
tation as  to  a  future  agreement  between  you  and  me  is  the  fear 
that  with  all  these  burdens  on  you,  you  will  not  be  equal  to  it. 
One  thing  I  can  promise  you  and  that  is,  that  your  brother 
shall  never  have  anything  to  do  with  me. — Keep  up  your 
spirits,  my  dear  Sir.  Nothing  is  got  by  drooping,  and  with 
exertion  you  may  retrieve  all  yet."  "  I  am  delighted  to  hear 
vou  are  making  up  your  mind  so  heroically."  Manchester — 
Saturday,  "  I  will  attend  to  what  you  say  about  Stevenson.  I 
hope  to  be  in  Dublin  on  Tuesday." 

Two  Letters,  one  -Ito.,  one  8vo.,  2Mrd  and  26th  June,  1818 


66 

"  What  is  to  be  done  about  the  Sacred  Songs  ?  Stevenson 
was  very  ill  when  I  was  in  Dublin,  and  I  had  no  time  to  speak 
to  him,  but  your  brother  told  me  he  is  determined  not  to  arrange 
them.  Dalton  however  seemed  to  think  he  ought  as  a  private 
matter  between  him  and  me,  and  I  intend  to  try  whether  he 
will  not."  "  Didn't  I  say  that  '  They  may  rail  at  this  life'  was  to 
be  set  half  a  note  lower?     It  can't  be  helped  now,  I  suppose." 

"  You  have  not  I  suppose  seen  a  full  account  of  my  dinner, 
as  it  appeared  in  the  Irish  papers — and  I  have  not  one  to  spare 
to  send  you."  "The  Longmans'  have  behaved  with  un- 
common generosity  to  me  about  the  Fudges  — they  have  added 
two  hundred  pounds  to  my  share  of  the  profits  from  their  own, 
which  is  a  thing  of  course  I  never  coidd  have  dreamt  of." 

Four   Letters,  three  4to.,  one    8vo.,   7th,    12th,    16th,  and  24th 
July,  1818 
"  Your  brother  has  kept   so  close  to  the  wind  with  me,  that 
1  feel  not  the  least  overflowings  of  generosity  towards  him,  and 
therefore  should  wish   him  to  have   no   more  than  according  to 
the  most  rigid  interpretation    of  the   deed,   he   is   entitled  to. 
With  you  I   trust   I   shall  have  other  opportunities  (after  we 
have  entirely  settled  this  affair)  of  shewing  what  I  feel.     1  con- 
gratulate you  on  the  spirit  that  has  been  shewn  in  so  many  of 
the  Elections."     "  Mr.  Rogers  will  send  some  papers  to  your 
house  for   me,  which  you  will  take   great  care  of  (as  they  are 
Sheridan's  MS.)"    "  I  wish  you  to  get  a  plate  engraved  for  me, 
at  some  Stationer's  near  you,  for  a  paper  to  paste  in  the  front 
of  my  books  with  my  name  and  crest.     I  dare   say  you  have 
seen  what  I  mean.     Only  don't  let  them  make  the  Black's  face 
too  like  me !     Tell  them  it  is  the  crest  of  the  Droyheda  Arms 
(a  black's  head  out  of  a  Coronet),  and  perhaps  they  will  be  able 
to  put  it  in  some  more  tasteful  form  than  "the  above,   by  en- 
closing it  in  a  garter  or  some  such  way;— but   pray  get  it  done 
as    soon    as    you  can;    and    have    a   thousand    struck   off  for 


67 

me."       "  The  motto  in  the  garter  ought,  I  suppose,  to  he  that 
of  the  arms,  which  is 

FoRTIS  CADERE  CEDERE  NON  POTEST. 

Let  them  not  make  any  mistake  in  the  words.     The  Coronet 
may  he  in  or  not." 

"  In  your  various  characters  of  Bill  Accepter,  Fish-Agent, 
&c.  &c.  I  keep  you  always  fully  employed.  I  now  want  you  to 
dispatch  me,  by  to-morrow  night's  coach,  a  good  dish  of  fish 
for  Saturday's  dinner.  Lord  Lansdowne  comes  to  eat  a  family 
dinner  with  us,  and  a  Lord's  family  dinner  is  a  poet's  best  one 
you  know."  "  You  perceive  we  have  got  rid  of  our  large  bill 
— all  by  the  Fudges.  I  do  not  owe  the  Longmans'  a  farthing. 
I  shall  however  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  make  use  of  your 
name  for  a  small  shot  of  forty  pounds  or  so." 

Three  Letters,  4to.,  14th,  18th,  and  28th  August,  1818 

"  I  am  full  of  grief  aud  dismay,  as  usual,  at  the  prospect  of 
interminable  war  between  you  and  your  brother,  and  I  am 
seriously  afraid  it  will  have  the  effect  of  preventing  any  satis- 
factory arrangement  between  you  and  me,  for  I  am  sure  to  be 
hooked,  some  way  or  other,  into  the  conflict,  if  I  continue  con- 
nected with  either  party."  "  I  think  of  going  in  a  few  days  to 
Leamington  Spa  for  the  purpose  of  having  an  interview  with 
Mrs.  Lefanu,  the  only  surviving  sister  of  Sheridan."  "  On  my 
return  I  found  your  letter  with  the  account  of  poor  Mr.  Cooper's 
death,  and  1  have  since  had  one  from  his  son  on  the  same  sub- 
ject. It  appears  to  me  to  have  been  very  like  murder  alto- 
gether. I  inclose  you  a  letter  I  have  had  from  Stevenson, 
which  you  will  see  leaves  us  in  the  lurch  altogether  as  to  our 
arrangements.  I  really  do  not  know  what  is  to  be  done.  I 
detest  the  idea  of  giving  my  things  into  the  hands  of  any  one 
else,  and  yet  in  justice  to  your  claim  upon  them,  they  must  be 
put  into  a  finished  state  by  some  one."  "  Pray  pay  Lord 
Byron's  letter  for  me." 

f  2 


OS 

Six  Letters,  five  4to.,  one  8vo.,  3rd  and  30th  September,    2nd, 
5th,  12th,  and  31st  October,  1818 

"  I  have  promised  to  go  for  two  days  to  Sir  Francis  Burdett's, 
and  as  his  house  is  on  the  way  to  town,  my  intention  at  present 
is  (if  it  will  not  delay  your  business  too  much)  to  go  to  him  on 
Monday  next,  stay  over  Tuesday,  and  be  in  town  on  Wednesday 
night."  With  reference  to  Sir  John  Stevenson,  Mr.  Moore 
says  that  he  conceived  that  Mr.  Power  had  performed  his  part 
of  what  he  had  decided  between  them,  in  accepting  Sir  John's 
draft,  "  and  that  he  alone  appeared  to  me  to  have  failed  in  not 
giving  those  things  he  had  agreed  for.  I  shall  now  I  think 
tell  him  that  as  I  perceive  I  cannot  depend  upon  his  steadiness 
for  fulfilling  punctually  what  I  determine,  I  shall  leave  him  to 
his  other  advisers."  "  I  write  to  you  now  about  a  most  im- 
portant affair — no  less  than  a  turtle  of  120  lbs.  weight,  which 
Branigan  lias,  it  appears,  consigned  to  you  for  me.  I  shall  be 
much  obliged  by  your  receiving  the  illustrious  stranger  with 
all  due  attention,  and  forwarding  him  in  as  good  health  and 
spirits  as  possible  to  Sloperton.  I  mean  him  as  a  present  to 
my  neighbour  the  Marquis,  who  is  much  better  able  to  enter- 
tain such  an  expensive  guest  than  I  am."  "I  bope  this  reforma- 
tion in  his  [Sir  John  Stevenson  s~\  ideas  will  be  the  means  of 
restoring  peace  between  you."  "  I  grieve  to  hear  that  the 
Foreigner  we  expected  has  died  upon  his  passage,  and  am  sorry 
you  have  had  so  much  trouble  about  him,  but  I  forgot  to  men- 
tion to  you  that  this  Captain  is  also  the  bearer  (or  ought  to  be) 
of  a  shawl  for  Bessy  and  a  small  parcel  for  me.  These  can't 
have  died  on  the  passage  also,  and  are  worth  inquiring  about." 
"  You  see  Perry  has  puffed  us  well,  and  Hunt  has  promised  an 
Article  on  the  subject ;  but  I  wish  you  would  call  at  the  Morn- 
ing Chronicle  office  with  the  corrections  I  have  written  at  the 
other  side.  How  could  they  make  such  a  precious  blunder?" 
"  I  find  that  Wilkie  and  Murray  are  coming  down  to  mc  about 


69 

my  Sheridan  work.     If  you  and  the  Longmans  were  to  join  the 
party  I  should  be  finely  beset !" 

Four  Letters,  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  11th  December,  1817,  (the 
first  referring  to  arbitration  with  Stevenson,  placed  out 
of  date  by  mistake),    14th  November,    I  lth  and  22nd 
December,  1818 

"  I  suppose  you  find  the  7th  Number  [Irish  Melodies']  rather 
slow  in  its  circulation,  from  the  dull  season  it  was  brought  out 
in,  but  I  trust  it  will  be  a  thriving  winter  vegetable  for  you." 
"  There  is  nothing  in  the  world  more  easy  to  be  understood 
than  the  decision  I  proposed,  and  you  have  shewed  over  and 
over  in  conversation  with  me  that  you  did  understand  it.  How- 
ever, here  it  is  again.  That  Stevenson  should  make  up  his 
number  of  twenty-four  each  year  from  the  commencement  of 
your  agreement  to  the  end,  and  that  you  should  pay  him  the 
full  amount  of  the  stipulated  annuity.  My  arguments  to  induce 
you  to  sacrifice  the  contested  points  (viz.  his  irregularity  in  the 
time  of  giving  these  things,  &c.)  I  shall  not  repeat ;  because  if 
they  were  good  for  anything  you  remember  them,  and  I  thought 
indeed  you  were  convinced  by  them.  I  perceive,  however,  the 
whole  affair  is  as  unsettled  as  ever,  and  I  shall  therefore  hope- 
lessly resign  my  office  as  arbitrator.  "What  I  mean  by  saying," 
&c.  "  I  am  sorry  we  did  not  come  to  some  more  explicit  un- 
derstanding about  our  future  connection  when  I  was  in  town, 
as  there  are  many  circumstances  about  which  I  am  puzzled  how 
to  act.  I  have  found  it  necessary  to  make  use  of  your  name 
for  a  bill  at  two  months,  having  got  rid  of  all  my  money  in 
leaving  myself  (thank  God)  without  a  single  serious  debt  on 
my  shoulders.  I  have  written  to  Stevenson  to  say  that  I  com- 
pletely and  finally  wash  my  hands  of  all  future  concern  in  the 
differences  between  him  and  you.  I  also  have  entreated  him 
to  let  me  know  decisively  what  he  means  to  do  with  respect  to 
the  pieces  that  yet  remain  to  be  arranged  for  the  Sacred  Melodies, 


70 

as  if  he  will  not  do  them  oil  hand  for  me,  I  must  get  somebodv 
else." 

Three    Letters    and    Advertisement    to    the   National   Melodies, 

(with    the    OMITTED   passage,   termed   by    Moore  "  a 

pretty  direct  puff"    three  4to.,  one    8vo.     Wednesday, 

Epping  Forest,  Wednesday — Saturday,  Pater-Noster  row, 

(1818)? 

"  It  is  not  indeed,  without  strong  hopes  of  success  that  I 

present  this  First  Number  of  our  Miscellany  to  the  Public.     As 

the  Music  is  not   my  own,  and  the  words  are  little  more  than 

unpretending  interpreters  of  the  sentiments  of  such  Airs,  it  will 

not  perhaps  be  thought  presumption  in  me  to  say  I  consider  it 

one  of  the  simplest  and  prettiest  collections  of  Songs  to  which  I 

have  ever  set  my  name." — T.  M. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  too  late  to  object — but  I  do  not  like  the 
Magdalen  at  all  [by  JVestall].  There  is  not  sufficient  beauty 
in  the  face,  and  the  drawing  is  bad."  "  I  am  better  pleased 
with  the  set  since  I  wrote  last,  and  if  Stevenson  will  attend  to 
my  remarks,  he  may  improve  his  symphonies,  &c.  without 
much  alteration.  What  I  wished  very  much  was  to  get  some- 
thing like  '  Sound  the  loud  Timbrel.'  "  "  Arrived  this  morning 
and  went  instantly  to  a  Proctor ;  who  has  given  me  some  comfort 
— my  case  is  not  so  immediately  desperate  as  I  feared.  I  should 
have  been  with  you  afterwards,  but  the  rain  has  made  me  prefer 
close  quarters  here,  where  I  dine."     [Pater-?ioster  Row~\. 

Mr.  Moore  to  Mr.  Power,  and  Mr.  John  Power,  five  Letters, 
one  folio,  three  4 to.  one  8vo.  (of  three  sides),  undated. 
"  Tuesday  morning.  I  am  not  very  well,  and  am  going  to 
my  Father's  to  dinner."  "  The  letter  to  Sir  James  Cockbnrn 
must  be  put  in  to-morrow."  "  Will  you,  when  you  are  sending 
any  thing  to  me,  find  a  little  book  called  '  the  adopted  Daughter,' 
for  Statia,  and  let  me  have  it.  It  is  written  by  a  Miss  Sand- 
ham."  Second  verse  of  "  A  Temple  to  Friendship,"  [for 
National  Melodies,  after  which   Stothard  made  his  drawing 


engraved  in  that  work].  "  The  two  last  lines  may  form  the 
suhject — the  figures  to  be  the  sculptor  and  the  maiden  carrying 
off  a  statue  of  Cupid,  while  an  image  of  Friendship  stands 
neglected  on  the  floor."  "  I  am  sorry  that  I  gave  you  the 
annoyance  of  sending  the  seventh  Number  to  Stevenson  (for 
it  could  have  been  easily  avoided),  but,  indeed,  where  there  is 
so  much  disagreeable  entanglement,  I  find  it  is  impossible  to 
stir  a  step  without  annoying  some  of  you.  As  to  keeping  the 
proofs,  that  may  be  my  fault  also,"  &c.  "  I  long  to  hear  what 
was  your  set-off  against  your  brother's  charge  on  Carpenter's 
business.  That  was  (to  say  the  least  of  it)  unlucky.  I  did 
not  hear  Maiden's  evidence,  but  Carpenter  told  me  that,  if  he 
were  upon  oath,  he  could  not  rate  what  he  gave  you  in  at  less 
than  seventy  pounds.  I  was  very  anxious  to  hear  your  own 
statement  of  this." 

One  Letter,  4to.  6th  April,  1818. 

Memoirs,  No.  392. 

The  last  line,  omitted  by  his  Lordship.     "  You  saw  but  one 
thing  of  mine  in  the  Chronicle." 
One  Letter,  4to.  16th  June,  1818. 

Memoirs,  No.  396. 

Twenty-four  lines  in  the  body  of  the  letter  omitted  by  his 
Lordship.  "  I  have  had  a  sad  mishap  on  my  way  home,  which 
I  want  you  to  set  about  remedying  for  me  as  immediately  as 
possible.  I  have  exchanged  portmanteaus  with  some  one  on 
the  road— a  Mr.  James  Rogerson,  as  the  brass  plate  on  his 
portmanteau  shews.  My  name  is  also  luckily  on  mine,  so  that 
I  should  suppose  we  shall  have  but  little  difficulty  in  restoring 
our  property  to  each  other.  What  I  want  you  to  do  is  to  go 
immediately  to  the  Bull  and  Mouth  Inn  (which  is  the  place, 
I  believe,  where  the  Shrewsbury  Mail  puts  up),  and  ask  there 
whether  a  gentleman  who  arrived  in  the  Mail  from  Shrewsbury 
yesterday  morning  had  said  anything  about  a  mistake  in  his 
portmanteau,  or  had  left  his  address  there.     I  left  Shrewsbury 


72 

in  this  Mail  and  quitted  it  at  Birmingham,  where  I  rather  think 
the  exchange  took  place.  His  portmanteau  shall  he  forwarded 
to  him  the  moment  I  hear  that  mine  is  safe.  There  are  some 
papers  of  great  consequence  in  mine,  besides  the  whole  of  my 
wardrobe,  which  makes  me  of  course  very  anxious  about  it. 
Pray,  lose  no  time  about  this.  I  send  you  on  the  other  side  a 
draft  upon  the  Longmans  for  the  twenty  pounds,  which  you 
have  to  pay  my  landlady  on  the  18th.  Tour  brother  borrowed 
from  Ellen  her  copy  of  the  National  Airs,  and,  I  suppose, 
instantly  set  to  work  upon  them,  as  she  had  not  got  them  back 
when  I  left  Dublin.  He  says  he  can  play  the  deuce  with  you 
for  publishing  before  him — is  it  so  ?" 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.,  one  12mo.,  7th,  16th,  21st  January, 
1819. 
"  I  inclose  some  Music  to  go  to  Birchall's,  and  a  list  of 
things  I  want  from  him.  Do  you  think  it  will  be  too  re- 
markable ordering  so  many  National  Collections?"  "The 
Quarterly  Review  is  very  favourable  indeed."  "I  write  to  you 
now  merely  because  I  promised  to  do  so — not  that  I  have  any- 
thing particular  to  say  about  the  papers  For  your  brother's 
extraordinary  estimate  upon  which  the  extraordinary  affidavits 
were  forwarded  you  had  already  shewn  me  in  town.  There  is 
one  item,  indeed,  which  (if  I  could  agitate  it)  will  give  me  some 
trouble,  and  that  is  the  sGlOO  for  your  half  the  Irish  Miscel- 
lany, with  which  your  brother  has  already  charged  me,  and 
which  I  am  sorry  to  say,  he  has  been  paid.  1  should  like  to 
have  your  advice  how  I  ought  to  proceed  with  him  on  this 
point,  as  if  I  could  get  off  paying  the  sum  twice  over)  without, 
however,  going  to  law  about  it),  it  would  be  at  least  so  much 
saved  out  of  the  fire.  If  you  and  I  are  to  have  another  agree- 
ment together,  I  should  be  glad  it  was  regularly  and. finally 
arranged,  as  it  would  not  only  enable  me  to  give  a  decisive 
answer  to  enquiries  on  the  subject,  but  would  set  my  mind  at 
rest  with  respect  to  the  tasks  and  pursuits  that  are  before  mc. 


73 

I  have  had  no  answer  from  Stevenson  to  my  serious  representa- 
tions about  the  Sacred  Songs.  I  know  not  therefore  what  to 
do — to  chuse  another  arranger  would  be,  I  perceive,  a  break  up 
for  ever — 'and  yet  the  work  must  come  out."  "  If  you  want 
filling  up  your  portmanteau  (not  otherwise),  you  may  send  to 
Lanman  the  Taylor,  at  the  top  of  St.  James's  St.,  not  far  from 
the  York  Hotel,  for  my  Kilkenny  coat,  which  he  had  to  alter." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.,  two  8vo.,    (one  of  two  sides),  26th  Feb- 
ruary, lfith,  18th,  and  25th  March,  1819. 
"  My  Tom  Crib  (upon  which  you  must  be  very  silent,  as  I 
have  gone  to  the  trouble  of  having  the  MS.  copied  before  it 
goes  to  the  Printer,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  deny  it  stoutly)  is 
nearly  ready,  and  I  am  yours  for  the  remainder  of  the  year." 
"  I  send  you  four  Sacred  Songs,  all  (I  think)  good  ones."     "  I 
have  just  had  a  letter  from  your  brother,  telling  me  that  he  is 
about  to  open  a  house  in  London,  and  modestly  asking  me  to 
give  him  the  preference  in  the  publication  of  some  of  my  works ! 
I  mean  to  write  a  last  strong  letter  to  Stevenson  about  this 
number  of  Sacred  Melodies.     I  heard  yesterday  from  Long- 
mans that  the  first  Edition  of  Crib  (2000  copies)  is  nearly  sold 
already,  and  they  have  worked  off  2000  more.   This  is  spanking 
work.     I  hardly  expected   any  sale  for  it.     Mrs.  Power  will 
be  glad  to  see  that  I  never  mean  to  touch  H.  R.  H.  again." 
"I  am  going  to  the  Harmonic  at  Bath  on  Friday."     "  I  tried 
something  for  the  St.  Patrick's,  because  you  seemed  to  wish  it 
— but  I  could  not  please  myself,  and  it  is,  I  assure  you,  no  loss 
— for  there  is  nothing  less  respectable  than  writing  Songs  for 
these  occasions,  to  be  roared  out  by  such  fellows  as  "Webbe  and 
Broadhurst.      My  Stewardship  will  cost  me,   I  dare  say,  ten 
guineas."     Becmests  Mr.  Power  to  send  this   ten  guineas  for 
him  to  Mr.  Tegart,  Pall  Mall.     "  Mind,  you  deny  Crib  stoutly 
for  me.     I  told  the  Longmans  it  would  have  been  better  to  get 
some  inferior  bookseller  to  publish  it ;  but  they  had  stronger 
hopes  from  it  than  I  fear  will  be  realized." 


74 

Four  Letters,  4to.,  7th,  15th,  25th,  and  26th  April,  1819. 

"  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  I  Lave  written  to  Corry  to  call 
upon  your  brother  and  pay  him  the  £20  which  you  know 
remained  of  our  account,  getting  at  the  same  time  a  receipt  in 
full  from  him,  which  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  possess,  and 
have  done  with  him  for  ever."  "  Did  I  tell  you  of  the  splendid 
reception  I  met  with  at  the  Ilarmonic  in  Bath  1  my  health 
drank,  with  a  flourishing  speech  from  one  of  the  Stewards,  and 
three  times  three.  My  songs  encored  over  and  over,  &c.  &c. 
It  was  indeed  very  flattering."  "  I  send  you  two  Nationals  and 
the  Song  from  Croker's  book,  which  I  thought  you  had  taken 
away  when  last  here."  "  I  have  done  a  Sacred  Song  that  / 
think  beats  '  Sound  the  loud  Timbrel,'  in  the  same  style.  Its 
title  is  '  War  against  Babylon.'  "  We  shall  be  most  happy  to 
see  you  at  the  time  appointed.  I  want  your  services  in  the  Fish 
line  for  Friday,  as  I  find  I  must  give  a  clearing  dinner  before  I 
go  to  town  — so  by  Thursday's  coach,  pray  do  not  forget  to  send 
me  a  good  dish  of  Salmon,  with  Smelts  to  garnish  (if  there  are 
any),  and  a  lobster  or  two.  If  you  could  be  down  by  Friday 
yourselves  you  would  uot  be  less  welcome  than  the  fish  to  us 
and  our  guests."  Family  arrangements,  &c. 
Three  Letters,  4 to.,  Gth  May,  10th  and  25th  June,  1819 

Directions  about  "  a  light  smart  hat  "  from  Bicknell's.  "  I 
am  glad  to  see  that  two  of  our  Pieces  are  performed  at  the 
Coven t  Garden  Oratorios.  But  why  don't  you  make  them 
announce  '  Hark  the  Vesper  Hymn,'  as  from  Moore's  National 
Melodies?"  "I  was  sorry  I  had  not  another  peep  at  you 
before  I  left  that  racketting  town  of  yours.  The  quiet  I  have 
plunged  into  here  is  just  as  much  in  the  other  extreme,  and 
almost  as  disagreeable."  "  I  have  sent  off  all  my  worldly 
wealth  to  Bessy  [Mrs.  Moore  had  gone  to  Edinburgh,  to  attend 
her  Sister's  Marriage  with  Mr.  William  Henry  Murray,  of 
the  Theatre  Royal  Edinburgh,  which  ivas  solemnized  on  the 
\(Jlh   July,  1819],   to   enable  her  to  come  home,  and  should 


75 

have  been  myself  upon  the  Parish  or  upon  you,  if  it  were  not 
for  the  God-send  to  which  the  inclosed  refers,  which  Branigan 
has  sent  wherewith  to  buy  some  things  for  his  little  girl." 

Two  Letters,  4to.   (one   of   three  sides),   22nd  and   2Sth  July, 
1819 
"I  have  some  very  gratifying  accounts  to  give  you  of  the 
kind  offers  that  have  been  made  to  me— even  by  some  of  my 
great  friends." 

"  The  persons  I  alluded  to  in  my  last  letter  were,  in  the  first 
place,  Lord  Lansdowne,  who  wrote  immediately  to  me  on  seeing 
the  statement  in   the  Newspapers,  offering   to  become  security 
for  me  to  the  amount  of  the  claims,  or  to  do  any  thing  else 
that  might  be  of  service.     Lord  Tavistock,  too,  wrote  down  to 
his  brother  Lord  John  (who  is  at  Bowood),  bidding  him  enquire 
whether  any  thing  had  been  done  or  was  doing  for  me,  and 
adding  these  words — '  I  am  very  poor,  but  I  have  always  had 
such  a  strong  admiration  of  Moore's  independence  of  mind,  that 
I  would  willingly  sacrifice  something  to  be  of  use  to  him.' 
Lord  John  himself  had  already  begged  me  to  accept  the  copy- 
right of  a  book  he  has  just  published,  as  his  mite  towards  my 
extrication.  In  short,  never  was  any  thing  more  gratifying  than 
the  zeal  every  body  shews  about  me.     I  have  just  heard  from 
Dublin,  that  the  Bishop  of  Kildare  (whom  I  do  not  know,  even 
by  sight)  offered  to  put  down  £50  himself  towards  a  subscrip- 
tion." Pecuniary  arrangements — "The  Longmans  I  mnst  keep 
entirely  for  my  great  effort,  so  that  in  the  mean  time  I  shall 
be  quite  adrift  for  the   means   of  subsistence,   travelling,  &c. 
unless  I  can  raise  the  wind  by  the  assistance  of  you  or  Murray. 
Rim  I  have  not  tried  yet,  &c."     To  Mr.   Power  Mr.  Moore 
apologises  for  "  thus  pressing  and  '  spurring  so  free  a  horse  '  as 
I  have  always  found  you."     "  I  suppose  you  saw  the  paltry 
paragraph  extracted  from  that  fellow  Fitzsimon's  paper — 'the 
talented  friend '  of  Lord  Donoughmore.'  " 


70 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.,  one  8vo.,  3rd,  4th,  and  18th  August, 
1819 
A  Commission  for  "our  neighbours  the  Phipps's — to  send 
down  directed  to  me,  by  Thursday's  Coach,  four  good  lobsters, 
200  prawns,  and  three  German  Sausages.  They  are  to  have 
a  rural  pic-nic  on  Friday,  and  this  supply  is  for  the  occasion." 
"  Many,  many  thanks  for  your  kind  exertions  to  assist  me. 
There  could  not  be  any  thing,  just  at  this  moment,  more  con- 
venient, or  more  full  of  relief  to  my  little  difficulties,  than  your 
having  discharged  this  last  Bill.  You  see  I  have  attended  to 
the  hint  at  the  end  of  your  letter  (which  was  according  to  the 
good  old  mode  of  the  Commons  of  England  in  tacking  grievances 
to  a  Money  Bill),  and  have  sent  three  Nationals,  which,  I 
think,  will  all  do— at  least  in  the  company  of  their  betters," 
&c.  "  I  send  back  the  Sausages,  which  are  pronounced  to  be 
very  bad.  You  will  make  the  best  exchange  of  them  for  better 
that  you  can.     The  lobsters  and  prawns  were  excellent." 

Letter  transmitting  one  of  them.  Three  Letters,  4to.  (one  of 
two  sides),  23rd  October,  (7th)  and  11th  November, 
1819 
Florence.  "  The  fact  is,  I  have  met  with  nothing  in  our 
way  since  I  came  to  Italy,  and  they  may  talk  as  they  will  of 
the  music  one  hears  in  this  Country,  I  can  only  say,  that 
(except  an  hostler  singing  '  Di  tanti  palpi ti'  in  the  Stable  Yard 
the  other  night)  I  have  not  heard  a  sound  of  any  thing  like 
popular  music  since  I  came."  Rome.  "  I  hope  to  be  in  Eng- 
land about  this  day  month."  "  I  send  as  accurate  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  times  of  the  Airs  [intended  for  2nd  Number  of 
National  Melodies]  (which  it  is  a  great  pity  we  did  not  think 
of  that  evening  we  revised  the  whole)  as  I  can  possibly  make 
out  from  a  recollection  of  their  characters  here ;  and;  as  I 
observe  you  are  one  short  of  the  number,  you  must  only  put  in 
'  How  happy  once '  as  a  Swedish  Air,  and  turn  my  other  Air 
into  a  '  Moorish  '  one." 


77 

Three  Letters,  4to.  (one  of  three  sides  with  Musical  Notation), 
13th,  16th,  and  31st  Decemher,  1819 
"Just  arrived  in  Paris,  safe  and  sound."  "I  am  ready  to 
set  about  any  and  every  work  you  may  have  for  me  to  do.  I 
find  I  must  not  come  to  England.  The  Longmans  have  written 
to  me  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  all  my  friends  I  should  by  no 
means  think  of  crossing  the  water."  "  I  have  only  time  (from 
Chantrey  going  so  much  sooner  than  I  expected)  to  write  out 
the  first  verse  of  the  Song  I  promised."  [Name  spelled 
Chauntry.~]  "  30,  Rue  Chanteraine.  You  will  perceive  there 
is  an  alteration  in  the  first  verse"  ['When  thou  shalt  wander  by 
that  sweet  light,' — sends  the  two  verses].  "  I  had  better  write 
out  these  words  with  the  music  on  the  other  side."  "  After  all 
this  is  a  better  place  to  pick  up  music  in  than  Italy." 

Three  Letters,  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  29th  January,  8th  and 
2Sth  February,  1820 
"  I  have  been  in  a  most  wretched  state  of  distraction  and  un- 
comfort  here.  Indeed  it  is  the  first  time  since  I  married  that 
my  home  has  been  uncomfortable  ;  for  being  thrown  upon  ex- 
ternal supplies  for  our  dinner,  &c.  and  contriving  that  but  ill 
and  expensively  (from  Bessy's  powers  of  management  being 
completely  nullified  by  her  ignorance  of  the  language),  and 
being  in  the  midst  of  the  bustle  of  a  Metropolis,  struggling 
against  its  distractions  and  its  expenses  without  success,  my 
mind  I  assure  you  has  been  kept  in  a  continued  state  of  fever, 
which  was  not  a  little  increased  by  the  Longmans  having 
pledged  me  to  the  public  for  a  work  of  which  there  are  not  a 
hundred  lines  written,  and  the  proceeds  of  which,  you  may  well 
believe,  are  essentially  necessary  to  my  existence  at  present. 
However,  all  this  is,  I  trust,  now  at  an  end.  I  have  been  lucky 
enough  to  find  a  Cottage,  just  such  as  you  know  I  like  for  a 
workshop,  within  fifteen  minutes  walk  of  Paris  (indeed  hardly 
out  of  it),  to  which  we  take  ourselves  on  Monday  next,  and  out 
of  which  I  shall  seldom  stir  till  I  have  brought  up  my  arrears  in 


78 

all  directions,  to  you  as  well  as  to  others.  My  address  now  is, 
No.  11,  Alice  des  Veuves,  Champs  Elysees."  "Life  swarms 
with  ills  for  us  all,  but  they  are  made  much  worse  by  yielding 
to  them — therefore,  courage  !  and  hope  for  better  days." 

''You  may  depend  upon  having  all  the  third  Number 
[National  Melodies]  before  the  end  of  June."  "  I  doubt 
whether  the  Irish  Melodies  would  be  practicable  if  I  stay  in 
Paris.  I  promise  you,  however,  before  the  end  of  the  year,  a 
sort  of  Musical  Tour,  made  up  of  Songs  and  Poems,  which  I 
think  I  shall  make  something  catching  of.  As  to  any  thing 
about  the  King  for  the  Oratorio,  my  heart  would  not  go  along 
with  it.  Such  things  always  do  me  more  harm  than  good,  and 
I  have  never  ceased  to  regret  the  Song  I  threw  away  in  the 
same  manner  on  the  Duke  of  Wellington." 
Four  Letters,  three  4to.,  one  8vo.,  7th  April,  3rd,  19th,  27ih 
June,  1820 
"Fudge  Family  in  Italy,  which  is  not  to  appear."  The 
Longmans  have  been  as  liberal  and  considerate  under  this  dis- 
appointment as  they  are  indeed  in  every  matter  in  which  I  am 
concerned  with  them.  I  should  like  (if  you  have  no  objection) 
to  apply  the  materials  which  I  have  for  the  3rd  Number 
[National  Melodies']  to  my  little  Musical  Tour."  "  Pray  tell 
Mr.  Croker  that  I  am  delighted  with  his  excellent  ideas  of  sub- 
jects for  the  Irish  Melodies,  and  that  I  will  answer  his  letter  in 
a  very  few  days."  "  I  find  your  brother  is  about  to  publish  the 
words  of  all  the  Irish  Melodies,  and  that  Mr.  Sullivan  (who  is 
here  and  informed  me  of  the  circumstance)  is  to  write  a  preface. 
Mr.  Sullivan,  by  the  bye,  tells  me  aho  that  the  reason  of  the 
compromise  between  you  and  Sir  John  is  the  discovery  of  some 
receipts  which  were  supposed  to  have  been  lost  by  Stevenson, 
and  which  enabled  him  to  prove  some  parts  of  his  case  against 
you  more  strongly  than  before.  Is  this  true?"  "  I  suppose 
you  were  somewhat  alarmed  about  ns  from  the  exaggerated 
accounts  of  the  Idiots  here  [Paris]  that  reached  London.     All 


is  now  perfectly  quiet."  "  I  sent  you  three  songs  by  Lady 
Davy,  and  you  have  here  two  more,"  &c.  "  My  book,  after  all, 
is  not  to  come  out.     You  shall  know  ichy  when  I  write  again." 

One  Letter,  4th  July,  1820 

"  The  subjects  I  send  you  now  are  both  good  for  designs,  there 
are  many  more  verses  to  '  Who'll  buy  my  love-knots,'  but  the  two 
first  would  afford  an  excellent  subject  to  Stothard."  "  I  shall 
give  all  the  assistance  in  my  power  towards  the  publication  of 
the  words  of  my  Melodies,  &c.  and  by  having  the  work  set  up 
here,  which  can  be  done  for  eight  or  ten  pounds,  the  delay  and 
trouble  of  sending  proofs  backwards  and  forwards  may  be 
avoided.  I  shall  also  write  a  short  preface  for  you.  We  have 
come  on  a  visit  to  some  friends  at  Sevres  (about  5  or  6  miles 
from  Paris),  who  have  purchased  a  beautiful  place  here,  and 
lent  us  a  cottage  in  their  grounds.  I  shall  stay  in  it  as  long 
as  I  can,  for  it  is  perfectly  quiet,  and  surrounded  with  delicious 
scenery,  and  (tho'  last,  not  least)  free  of  much  expense." 

Eight  Letters,   one  folio,  five  4to.,  two  8vo.  (one  of  two   sides), 
12th  July,  2nd,  3rd,  4th,  18th,  21st,  28th,  31st  August, 
1820 
La  Butte.      "  I   send  you   three   more  Songs,  which  will 
make  up  the  number  of  twelve  National  Melodies.     I  shall  con- 
tinue at  intervals  sending  you  more,  in  order  that  we  may 
choose  the   best,    and   shall  do   my  best  in  order  to  get  up  a 
number  of  Irish   Melodies  for  you  at  the  time  you  mention. 
But  I  shall  want   Bunting   sent  over  to  me :  do  not,  however, 
send  it  till  you  hear  further  on  the  subject  from  me."     "  I  am 
at  present  living  at  but  little   expense,  being  on  a  visit  to  some 
friends,  with   whom  I  dare   say  we  shall  stay  for  two  months 
longer."     "  As   soon  as  I   receive  the   Irish   Airs   I   shall  set 
lustily  about  the  8th  Number,  and  in  the  meantime  I  hope  to 
send  you  two  very   pretty  Nationals  which  I  have  lately  got." 
"  I  send  you  a  National  Melody  and  an  Irish  one,  which  I  hope 
you  will  like,  though  you  have  become  so  cautious  in  expressing 


80 

your  opinion  of  what  I  send,  that  it  is  a  very  long  time  since  I 
had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  whether  you  approved  of  them  or 
not.  I  shall  go  on  now  as  industriously  as  my  materials  v.  ill  let  me 
with  the  Eighth  Number,  though  I  must  say  that  the  difficulty 
of  squeezing  it  out  in  this  hurried  way  is  such  a-,  under  any  other 
circumstances,  or  for  any  one  else,  not  six  times  the  sum  I  am 
to  get  for  it  would  induce  me  to  undertake,  and  I  think  you 
know  me  well  enough  to  be  aware  that  this  is  no  idle  flourish." 
"  The  advertisement  had  better  run  thus."  [Of  the  Eighth 
Number  of  the  Irish  Melodies  being  nearly  ready  for  press,  and 
the  preparation  of  the  letter-press  of  the  whole  work  in  a  Volume, 
with  illustrations].  "  I  send  you  two  Irish  Melodies  and  a 
National  one,  which  I  think  you'll  own  is  very  industrious." 

Three  Letters,  8vo.,  3rd,  10th,  and  28th  September,  1820 

"I  have  done  one  more  Irish  Melody  since  I  wrote,  and  if  I 
am  lucky  in  my  operations,  hope  to  be  able  to  send  you  three 
more  by  my  next  dispatch,  which  will  complete  the  half  of  our 
Number."     "  I  have  been  lucky  enough   to  achieve  the  three 
Irish  Melodies  in  the  time  I  said,  which  now  gives  us  half  our 
Number,   and   they  are  all    such   as    may  stand.     The   other 
Bunting  will  be  a  great  reinforcement  to  us,  as  I  think  I  have 
exhausted  my  present  forces.     The  weather  is  again  delightful, 
and  we  are  still  in  our  beautiful  abode  at  Sevres."     "  I  send 
you  three  more   Irish   Melodies.     I   hope  you  will  admire  my 
poetical   description   of  the   Poiteen  [Drink  of  this  cup.~]     It 
strikes  me  that  tlus   number  will   be,  contrary  to  my  first  ex- 
pectations, a  very  good  one.     I  have  received  the  Bunting  by 
Ellis."* 

Seven  Letters,   four  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  two  8vo.   (one  of 

two  sides),  one   12mo.   (two  sides), 5th,   9th,   10th, 

2Gth,  and  31st  October,  1820 
"  Mrs.  Moore  bids  me  tell  you  (what  she  knows  you  will  be 

*  William  Henry  Ellis,  Esq.,  an  Irish  Banister. 


81 

glad  to  hear)  that  her  sister  has  just  been  confined,  and  is  the 
mother  of  a  little  boy."  "I  send  you  our  tenth  Melody. 
I  shall  be  delighted  to  do  something  on  the  subject  of  O'Do- 
nohue  and  his  White  Horse,  but  I  have  not  by  me  the  extracts 
which  Mr.  Croker  gave  me  relating  to  it.  If  he  should  not  be 
in  London  to  furnish  you  with  them,  pray  get  Weld's  Book  on 
Killarney,  in  which  I  believe  the  details  may  be  found,  and  get 
them  copied  out  for  me  immediately.  I  have  an  air  which  I 
think  would  suit  the  subject."  "  By  last  post  I  sent  you  an 
Irish  Melody.  I  am  now  searching  anxiously  for  an  air,  at 
once  spirited  and  melancholy,  to  which  I  may  write  some 
words  allusive  to  Grattan.  Our  National  work  ought  not  to 
terminate  without  some  remembrance  of  him.  -This  and  the 
Song  upon  Donohue  will  make  the  twelve.  The  materials  of 
the  latter  I  look  to  you  for."  "I  am  getting  on  with  my 
verses  on  Grattan,  for  which  I  have  been  lucky  enough  to  find 
a  suitable  air.  They  will  I  flatter  myself  be  no  small  ornament 
to  our  number.  I  forgot  to  say  that  I  think  Mr.  Croker's  de- 
sign for  the  Title  very  tasteful  and  elegant,  and  that  I  have  no 


G 


82 

change  whatever  to  suggest  in  it."  "  I  have  copied  out  the 
lines  upon  Grattau  for  you,  but  had  not  room  for  the  last  verse. 
I  shall  send  it  to  you  however  with  the  Music,  by  the  next  op- 
portunity ;  and  hope  to  have  the  Song  upon  Donohue  for  you 
in  the  course  of  next  week."  Proposes  writing  verses  for  a 
work  the  Music  to  be  selected  from  Blangini's  Notturnes. 
"  I  send  you  the  remaining  verses  of  the  Donohue  Song. 
Tell  Mr.  Croker  that  he  may  put  the  young  girl  into  his  draw- 
ing, standing  beside  the  Lake  and  looking  at  the  visionary 
chieftain  in  the  distance.  I  intend  to  say  that  one  of  the  tra- 
ditions about  Donohue  is  a  girl  having  gone  wild  and  thrown 
herself  into  the  Lake  for  love  of  him.  You  shall  have  Blan- 
gini  the  next  thing.  I  have  not  been  very  well  this  week  past, 
and  rather  think  that  the  anxious  struggle  I  am  for  ever  kept 
in  between  the  importunities  of  society  and  the  effort  to  be  busy 
is  beginning  to  shew  itself  in  the  state  of  my  nerves  and  general 
health.  Do  you  know  that  Lord  John  Russell  has  dedicated  the 
second  edition  of  his  last  book  to  me,  and  signed  himself  my 
'  attached  friend!     This  is  truly  flattering." 

Three  Letters,  one  4to.,  two  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  6th,   13th, 
and  20th  November,  1820 
'  I  have  been  obliged  to  tell  Murray  and  Wilkie  fairly,  that  I 
cannot  finish  the  Life  of  Sheridan  satisfactorily  to  myself  while 
I  stay  here,  and  that  therefore  they  must  draw  upon  me  for  the 
sum  which  they  have  advanced  upon  it.     This  is  very  magnifi- 
cent of  me,  but  how  I  am  to  manage  the  magnificence  is  yet  in 
the    clouds."     "  I    send  you    the  first   verse   of  my  song  on 
Donohue  {Of  all   the  fair  Months].     You  had  better  have  a 
sketch  made  from  this  subject,  representing  the  Lake  of  Killar- 
ney  and  a   number  of  spirits  both  male   and   femaje,  gliding 
over  it,  strewing  flowers   around   them,  while  a  warrior  on  a 
white  horse  is  seen  in  a  sort  of  indistinct,   visionary  -way  at  a 
distance  on  the  water — Consult  Mr.  Croker  about  it.      By  my 
next  you  shall  have  the  Music  of  the  Grattan  Song,  and  per- 


S3 

liaps  the  remaining  verses  of  Donohue,  but  you  can  proceed 
with  the  Sketch  on  the  description  I  have  given."*  "  There  is 
going  to  be  a  grand  dinner  and  ball  here  in  commemoration  of 
Lord  Liverpool's  discomfiture." 

Four  Letters,  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  3rd,  14th,  18th,  and  21st 
December,  1820 
"  My  distractions  here,  in  the  way  of  visitors,  &c.  increase 
upon  me  so  as  to  derange  very  much  my  progress  in  writing. 
You  come  off  best  of  any  of  my  employers,  because  it  is  that 
kind  of  work  which  can  be  done  at  fits  and  starts,  but  the 
great  task  (to  which  I  look  for  a  sweeping  sum  to  meet  my 
Bermuda  compromise  stands  still),  and  unless  I  can  find  some 
quieter  situation  when  my  time  in  this  house  is  expired,  I  don't 
know  what  is  to  become  of  me.  Yesterday  Lord  John  Russell 
and  Lord  Charlemont  dined  with  us.  Paris  swarms  with  my 
friends  and  acquaintances."  "That  paragraph  in  the  Courier 
was  false.  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  proposal  for  a  Public 
Dinner  that  was  in  the  Reading  Rooms." 

Eight  Letters,  four  4to.,  four  8vo.,  1st,  8th,  11th,  16th,  18th, 
21st,  25th,  and  27th  January,  1821 
Refers  to  "an  accident  which  (though  of  no  great  conse- 
quence) has  confined  me  to  my  bed  for  these  three  days  past, 
and  may  probably  for  a  few  days  longer."  "  The  tumour  has 
been  lanced,  and  I  have  to  day  got  to  my  sopha."  "  I  have 
been  busy  sending  off  recommendations  for  a  man  [_Quere  ? 
Sheridan's  brother-in-law]  who  is  candidate  for  an  office  at 
Dulwich,  and  wrote  to  me  to  use  my  influence  for  him."  "  I 
still  feel  a  little  weak  after  my  confinement."  "  I  have  just 
received  an  invitation  to  dine  with  the  Duke  of  Orleans  to- 
morrow." "  Tell  Mr.  Croker  that  I  thank  him  very  much  for 
his  remarks.      He  is  right  as  to  'again',  it  having  been  put  by 

*  A  Drawing  in  Sepia  of  this  subject  was  made  by  Mr.  Martin,  but  it  has 
never  been  engraved,  and  remains  in  Mr.  Power's  family. 

G    2 


84 

mistake  instead  of  '  once  more,''  and  you  will  have  the  goodness 
to  have  the  latter  words  inserted  in  place  of  'again*     The 
other  passage  he  has  remarked  is  no  mistake,  hut  quite  as  I  in- 
tended it.      It  may  he  possibly,  however,  obscure   to  others  as 
well  as  to  him,  and,  therefore,  had  better  be  put  thus 
'  howe'er  the  world  may  shake 
It's  inmost  core,' 
You  will  see  that  this  is  carefully  done."* 

*  See,  the  Song  of  "  Thee,  thee,  only  thee,"  in  the  Irish  Melodies,  where 
this  passage  now  stands — 

"  howe'er  tbe  world  may  wake 
Its  grief,  its  scorn," — 

The  Air  Staca  an  Mharaga  (the  Market  Stake),  to  which  Mr.  Moore's 
words  are  adapted,  was  popular  in  Ireland  as  a  Jacobite  Song — and  Mr. 
Crofton  Croker  appears  to  have  sent  the  Music  of  it  to  Mr.  Power,  with  a 
humourous  letter  informing  him  that  Lord  Byron's  Hebrew  Melodies  having 
proved  to  be  "  out  and  out  failures,"  his  Lordship  was  trying  his  hand  upon 
some  Irish  Songs,  and  had  "  written  tbe  following  verses  to  a  tune  made  by 
an  old  blind  Irish  bagpiper  named  Heffeman,"  whom  be  had  engaged  on 
the  joint  recommendation  of  Sir  John  Stevenson  and  Mr.  Bunting  to  be  his 
travelling  accompanyment  in  Greece.  Mr.  Power  sent  on  this  letter  to  Mr. 
Moore,  and  the  use  made  of  it  by  Moore  is  perhaps  the  most  extraordinary 
instance  of  the  beauty  of  parody  in  existence — 

Scene — The  Cidkii  Cellar. 
Time,    from   seven  in   the  evening   till   four   in   the   morning. 
Harmonized  for  the  solemn  voices  of  four  Irish  Law  Students. 

The  closing  of  day — the  candle's  blinking, 
The  morning's  dawn — still  finds  me  drinking 
Of  gin — gin,  only  gin.* 

*  Ginnestan  is  tbe  name  given  in  Persia  to  an  ideal  intoxicating  region 
inhabited  by  Jins  or  Demons  (\J^-),  and  as  clearly  demonstrates  the  affinity 
of  tbe  Erin  of  the  West  with  the  Iran  of  the  East,  as  the  Sunny  Persian 
Shamrack  connects  itself  with  the  Sbamrock  of  "  The  Emerald  Isle." 


85 

Five  Letters,  one  folio,  four  4to.,  9th,  1 2th,  Mtli,  15th,  and  19th 
February,  1821 
"I  have  written  to  Stevenson  by  this  clay's  post  to  say  how  sur- 
prised," &c.  "  We  are  to  have  a  great  dinner  here  on  Patrick's 
day.  I  am  to  be  in  the  Chair,  and  either  Lord  Miltown,  or 
Lord  Charlemont  to  be  my  Vice."  "  I  believe  I  told  you  in  a 
letter  some  time  ago,  of  my  being  introduced  to  Mr.  Canning  at 
his  own  request.  I  dined  with  him  again  on  Friday  last."  [This 
letter  received  on  the  14 th  February,  is  dated  Jan.  8,  1821.] 
"  I  wish,  when  you  have  an  opportunity,  you  would  send  me 
copies  (handsomely  bound)  of  the  two  Numbers  of  National 
Melodies  for  Mademoiselle  the  Duke  of  Orlean's  sister." 

When  friends  are  met,  and  plates  are  laid, 

And  supper-time  is  fast  approaching, 
Uncheer'd  by  all  the  board's  parade, 

My  soul  like  tapster  dreams  of  broaching 
The  gin — gin,  only  gin. 
Whatever  in  art  might  wake  the  palate 
To  suppers,  gout,  there's  no  such  sallad 

As  gin — gin,  only  gin. 
Like  spice,  by  which  some  cook  francois 

To  simple  dish  can  give  a  relish  ; 
Sermons  and  suppers,  grave  or  gay, 
Are  swallowed  down  in  places  Hellish, 
For  gin— gin,  only  gin. 
I  have  not  a  thought,  but  of  thy  waking, 
And  pain  is  half  forgot  when  taking 
Sweet  gin — gin,  only  gin. 
Like  Venice  glass  that  topers  break,  * 

When  lips  have  quaff'd  the  Wine  within  it ; 
This  heart,  as  any  glass  is  weak, 

And  breaks  in  just  as  brief  a  minute 
For  gin — gin,  only  gin. 

*  In  Italy,  after  drinking  a  patriotic  toast,  it  was  customary  to  dash  the 
glass  upon  the  ground,  in  order  that  it  should  not  be  profaned  by  other  lips. 
In  Ireland  the  custom  of  throwing  empty  bottles  at  one  another's  heads  is  not 
unusual,  and  by  a  duck  or  luck  they  are  sometimes  broken  against  the  wall. 


86 

Seven  Letters,  four  folio,  three  4  to.,  6th,  9th,  15th,  16th,    23rd, 
27th,  and  30th  Marth,  1821 
"  I  do  not  quite  like  the  way  '  Thee,  Thee,'  is  done.     You'll 
see  my  remarks  on  the  music."     "  At  the  end  of  April  we  go 
to  our  new  cottage."     Blaugini's  Notturni.     "  You  need  not 
wait  for  an  Advertisement  to  the  8th  Number  [Irish  Melodies] 
as,  for  reasons  J  shall  tell  you  in  my  next,  I  do  not  mean  to  put 
any."     ft  Mr.  Charles  Sheridan  will  send  you  a  packet,  which 
was  undone  at  the  Custom   House,  but  the  articles  are  to  be 
distributed  thus.     The  workbox  for  your  Bessy,  the  puzzle  for 
James,  the  yellow  fan  for  Mary,  and  the  white  one  to  be  folded 
up  and  directed  to  Miss  Tegart,  Pall  Mall,  with  Mrs.  Moore's 
compliments.     I  suppose  you  have  no  objection  to  my  beginning 
another  Number  of  the  Nationals  for  you  forthwith.     Lord 
John,  I  think  lives  in  Stanhope  Street,  but  you  can  inquire  at 
Lord  Tavistock's  in  Arlington  Street." 

Five  Letters,  one  folio,  two  4  to.,  two  8vo.,  5th,  12th,  16th, 
24th,  and  27th  April,  1821 
"  If  Perry  puts  in  the  lines  I  inclose  (they  are  about  Naples, 
and  dated  Champs  Ely  sees),  pray  send  a  copy  of  the  paper 
directed  to  Miss  Dalby,  Castle  Donington,  Cavendish  Bridge, 
Leicestershire."  "The  book  is  magnificent,  and  worthy  of  the 
most  royal  hands ;  though  I  almost  grudge  it  to  her  Highness, 
and  shall  at  least  have  the  showing  of  it  to  every  one  else  before 
I  let  her  have  it."  "  I  was  very  glad  to  find  my  account  with 
you  (for  the  first  time,  I  believe)  creditable  for  me  in  every 
sense  of  the  word."  "  As  soon  as  Lord  Byron's  tragedy' is  out, 
pray  send  it  to  me  through  Mr.  Greville, — don't  forget  this." 

Eight   Letters,   one  irregular   size,  five  4 to.,    two  8vo.  (both  of 

two  sides).     1st,  3rd   (two),  5th,  8th,   10th,  22nd,  and 

29th  May,  1821 

"  I  send  you  a  National  Melody,  which  I  think  you  will  like, 

and  pray  keep  Mr.  Bishop's  learning  down  as  much  as  you 

can."     "  My   money  goes  from  me  most  rapidly  in  this  change 


87 

of  residence."  "  We  have  been  working  hard  at  all  sorts  of 
gaiety  this  week  past."  "  I  have  just  received  a  most  flattering 
letter  from  Mademoiselle  d'Orleans,  with  the  present  of  a  clock 
for  my  chimney-piece — so  you  see  what  the  splendid  binding 
has  done."  "She  [Miss  Power']  dined  with  us  yesterday  at 
our  neighbours  the  Villamil's  to  meet  some  French  Princesses 
and  Countesses."  "  Pray  let  me  have  Bowles's  answer  to 
Lord  Byron,  just  published — and  will  you  tell  my  friend 
Thomas  Campbell  (who  I  rejoice  to  hear  is  become  very  well 
acquainted  with  you),  that  I  shall  answer  his  letter  by  next 
post." 

Three  Letters,  one  4to.  two  8vo.  (one  of  three,  the  other  of  two 
sides).     4th,  two  (received?)  and  10th  June,  1821 
Sends  the  additional  verses  to  "  Who'll  buy  my  love  knots  ?" 
"  You  seem  to  wish  that  I  should  work  double  tides  this  year, 
and  indeed  my  expenses  here  will  make  it  necessary — for  I  am 
still  too  near  the  shoal  of  friends  I  have  in  Paris,  and   the 
hospitalities  I  am  obliged  to  exercise  (as  Jane  will  tell  you) 
impose  a  tax  upon  me,  which  if  I  stay  beyond  this  year  in 
France,  I  am  determined  not  to  incur  again."     "  Bessy  begs 
you  will  contrive  to  bring  her  back  from  Ireland  a  tabbinet  gown, 
purple,  and  it  would  also  gratify  her  very  much  if  you  could 
find  leisure  some  Sunday  to  go  and  see  our  poor  Barbara's 
grave,  and  give  a  few  shillings  to  the  Sexton  to  keep  it  in  good 
order.     You  will,  of  course,  not  mention  in  your  letter  to  me  if 
you  should  find  it  in  a  bad  or  ruinous  state,  but  do  what  is 
necessary  towards  repairing  it,  and  tell  Bessy  it  is  quite  as  it 
should  be.     As  soon  as  I  have  got  through  the  fourth  Number 
of  Nationals,  I  shall  I  think  attempt  something  of  the  dramatic 
kind,  we  once  mentioned,  for  private  performance."     "  I  wish 
to  have  the  duett,  '  Our  first  young  love  resembles,'  (Blangini) 
dedicated  to  Mrs.  Villamil,"  (of  La  Butte  Coaslin).     "Your 
brother's  proceeding  with  respect  to  the  8th  Number  is,  to  be 
sure,  most  daring." 


88 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.,  two  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  lfith, 
20th,  2 1  st,  and  29th  July,  1821 
"  I  take  for  granted  this  will  find  you  still  in  Dublin."  Mrs. 
Moore  has  gone  "into  Wiltshire,  to  see  my  books  deposited  in 
some  safe  place  upon  the  giving  up  of  our  cottage  there,  which 
will  henceforth  only  be  let  with  land— an  undertaking  J,  of 
course,  should  not  wish  to  embark  in."  "  I  am  sorry  to  find 
that  the  douhle  tide  working  which  I  proposed  for  this  year 
will  press  too  hard  upon  you."  "  If  I  can  finish  pretty  soon 
a  great  work  I  am  about,  I  shall  have  plenty  of  money  this 
next  year."  "  I  most  anxiously  hope  that  your  business  in 
Dublin  will  be  settled  satisfactorily,  and  (what  must  be  a  great 
object  to  you)  speedily."*     "  Between  ourselves,  I  am  just  now 

*     DUBLIN  ROLLS  COURT— July  24  avD  25,  1821. 
J.  Power  v.  W.  Power. 

On  the  3rd  of  July,  lames  Power,  of  the  Strand,  London,  music  seller, 
obtained  an  injunction  to  restrain  William  Power,  of  Westmoreland-street, 
Dublin,  from  publishing  a  pirated  edition  of  the  Eighth  Number  of  Moore's 
Irish  Melodies  ;  the  said  James  Power  having  the  sole  property  in  the 
above-mentioned  work,  by  deed  of  assignment  from  Thomas  Moore,  Esq., 
the  author.  On  the  17th  inst.  Mr.  O'Connell,  on  behalf  of  W.  Power, 
moved  the  Court  to  dissolve  the  injunction. 

The  decision  of  the  Court  was,  that  the  injunction  should  remain  undis- 
turbed till  the  case  was  argued. 

This  important  case  came  on  yesterday  and  the  day  before,  to  be  argued  on 
its  merits,  before  his  honour  the  Master  of  the  Rolls. 

It  appeared  from  the  statement  of  Counsel  on  the  side  of  the  plaintiff,  that 
he  had  entered  into  an  engagement  with  Mr.  Moore  in  the  year  1811,  for  a 
period  of  seven  years,  the  latter  covenanting  to  supply  the  former  with  one 
number  of  Irish  Melodies  and  certain  other  works  specified,  for  the  considera- 
tion of  an  annuity  of  £500,  which  was  to  be  paid  him  by  plaintiff.  In  1812 
plaintiff  entered  into  an  agreement  by  deed  with  defendant,  by  which  he  gave 
him  the  licence  of  publishing  Moore's  Works  in  Ireland  solely,  in  considera- 
tion of  defendant  paying  him  2-5ths  of  said  annuity  ;  said  deed  to  be  con- 
sidered null  and  void  whensoever  the  defendant  should  fail  to  pay  his  quota 
of  annuity  to  plaintiff.     On  the  expiration  of  the  seven  years,  after  some  time 


89 

negotiating  the  sale  of  Lord  Byron's  Memoirs,  which  you  know 
he  made  me  a  present  of,  and  which  he  is  anxious  I  should  turn 
to  account  in  a  pecuniary  way.  I  have  asked  two  thousand 
pounds  for  them.  They  would  be  worth  three  times  that,  if 
they  were  to  be  published  immediately,  but  they  are  not  to 
appear  till  after  Lord  B's  death,  which  makes  a  great  difference, 
I  am,  however,  determined  to  sell  them  to  the  best  bidder. 
This  of  course  you  will  keep  to  yourself."  Sends  communica- 
tion from  Professor  Momigney  "  who  is  anxious  to  be  employed 
by  you."  "  I  wish  you  to  get  me  a  few  hundred  more  of  those 
papers  for  my  books  struck  off."  "  I  have  not  been  able  yet 
to  see  Madame  de  Broglie,  about  Knyvett's  Air  (as  he  chooses 

plaintiff  entered  into  a  new  agreement  with  Mr.  Moore  for  a  further  term  of 
six  years,  under  which  agreement,  and  in  this  present  year,  the  Eighth  Num- 
ber of  the  Melodies,  which  forms  the  subject  under  litigation,  was  delivered 
by  Mr.  Moore  to  plaintiff,  and  by  him  published  as  his  sole  property,  which 
appeared  by  deed  of  assignment  as  well  as  by  the  regular  deed  of  agreement. 
The  defence  set  up  by  W.  Powell  was,  that  he  in  fact  was  the  sole  proprietor 
of  all  Moore's  Melodies,  and  that  plaintiff  had  no  right  to  publish  them  even 
in  England,  without  his  concurrence  and  approbation  ;  but  he  totally  failed 
in  shewing  any  written  document  whatever  in  support  of  his  assertion.  His 
case  was  ably  argued  by  Messrs.  Joy,  O'Connell,  and  Bennet,  who  displayed 
much  ingenuity,  by  arguing  on  the  assertions  of  the  Solicitor  upon  facts 
which  were  not  contained  in  the  pleadings. 

The  plaintiff's  case  was  argued  with  great  clearness  and  talent  by  the 
Solicitor- General,  Mr.  Plunkett,  and  Mr.  Adair. 

The  Master  of  the  Rolls,  in  giving  his  decision,  said,  that  the  defendant  had 
set  up  two  defences,  neither  of  which  were  tenable.  The  plaintiff  had  estab- 
lished his  title  by  the  production  of  the  assignment  from  Mr.  Moore,  in  whom 
the  property  was  vested,  from  his  having  written  the  work  himself,  it  would  be 
very  injurious  to  the  copyright  of  literary  productions,  if  an  injunction  should 
be  withheld  from  the  plaintiff,  who  claims  his  right  by  virtue  of  such  deed, 
when  the  defendant  has  no  written  document  to  substantiate  his  claim,  nor  is 
there  a  word  of  the  existence  of  such  document  sworn  to  or  set  forth  in  the 
pleadings.  He  concluded  by  saying,  that  he  would  give  an  order  that  the 
injunction  obtained  by  Mr.  James  Power  in  this  case,  should  stand  unmoved, 
till  the  defendant  should  shew  any  legal  title  to  the  work  before  a  court  of  law. 


90 

to  call  it).  It  was  she  who  danced  to  it  five  or  six  years  ago, 
and  called  it  a  Cossack  Dance.  How  long  is  Knyvett's  Glee 
published?  Knyvett's  originality  is  a  ticklish  subject,  and 
he  had  better  not  make  a  stir  about  it."  Note  of  introduc- 
tion for  Doctor  Williams  to  Mr.  Power. 

Four  Letters,  three  4to.,  one  8vo.,  6th  and  13th  August,  3rd 
and  1/th  September,  1821 
"  As  to  the  Air  claimed  by  Knyvett,  I  have  been  able  to 
learn  no  more  than  I  have  communicated  in  my  letter  to  you 
some  weeks  since.  But  if  his  composition  appeared  but  within 
these  three  years,  I  can  safely  swear  that  I  heard  the  Cossack 
Air  five  or  six  years  since.  I  will  however  write  to  Madame 
de  Broglie  on  the  subject.  I  inclose  six  National  Melodies, 
almost  all  of  which  I  think  lucky  ones — set  Bishop  to  work." 
"You  are  welcome  back  to  London.  I  am  not  yet  decided  as  to 
the  incognito  trip  I  mentioned  to  you."  "  I  mean  to  leave 
this  on  my  incog,  trip  about  Wednesday  next,  so  that  I  shall 
arrive  in  London  on  Saturday  or  Sunday.  You  will  lose  no 
time  in  sending  the  inclosed  note  to  Rogers's  housekeeper.  I 
mean  to  sleep  there  but  shall  board  with  you.'" 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  Svo.,  2nd  and  22nd  October,  1821 

"  St.  James's  Place.  Here  I  am  again,  and  mean  to  come 
to  you  as  soon  as  I  have  written  some  letters."  signed  T.  Dyke. 
"  I  sball  come  to  Buckingham  Street,  early,  and  will  dine  with 
you,  if  it  suits  me." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.,  two  8vo.,  2nd,   15th,  27th  and  29th  No- 
vember, 1821 

"  Salisbury,  Thursday,  four  o'clock.  I  have  been  put  out 
of  my  accustomed  line  of  Coaches  by  being  obliged  to  paya 
visit  at  some  distance  from  Calne,  and  though  I  have  but' little 
doubt  of  getting  a  place  in  some  of  the  Night-Coaches,  yet  as 
ill  luck  may  come  across  me,  I  just  write  this  line  to  tell  you 
my  situation  in  order  that  you  may  know  why  I  do  not  appear 


91 

at  dinner,  and  prevail  on  Mr.  Bishop  to  meet  me  at  breakfast 
on  Saturday."  "I  send  you  the  second  verse  of  'Bright  be 
thy  dreams.'  I  merely  have  written  the  Notes,  without  mark- 
ing the  time  as  I  do  not  well  remember  it."  "  I  inclose  the 
last  proofs.  We  certainly  have  no  reason  to  complain  of 
Bishop's  display  of  his  science  this  time."  "  In  my  next  I 
hope  to  be  able  to  tell  you  about  '  Hark,  the  Vesper  Hymn,'  as 
Madame  de  Broglie  is  in  Paris." 

Six  Letters,  one  4to.,  five  8vo.,  10th,  13th,  17th,  24th, and 

27th  December,  1821 
"  I  have  enquired  of  Madame  de  Broglie  about  the  Air,  and 
she  cannot  give  me  any  farther  account  of  it  than  that  she 
heard  it  in  France  as  a  Cossack  Air,  and  always  considered  it 
as  such.  But  I  think  you  have  nothing  else  to  do  than  to 
assert  stoutly  that  it  is  a  Russian  Air,  and  let  Knyvett  prove 
that  it  is  not."  Refers  to  Perry's  death.  "  I  am  therefore 
obliged  to  draw  upon  you  through  Lafitte,  till  I  can  arrange 
something  of  the  same  kind  with  my  friend  Kinnaird,  to  whom 
I  write  by  this  day's  post."  "  Madame  de  Broglie  is  not  an 
Opera  Dancer,  but  a  Duchess,  and  it  was  in  private  society  I 
saw  her  dance  that  tune  about  seven  or  eight  years  ago.  You 
may  call  '  Row  gently  here,'  a  Venetian  Air."  "  I  send  back 
the  proofs.  These  two  Duetts  are  very  beautifully  done,  and 
the  symphony  to 'When  first  that  smile,' is  beautiful."  "I 
return  the  last  proof  with  my  benediction — may  the  work 
prosper!"  "  You  shall  soon  have  some  grist  for  the  Musical 
Mill." 

Five  Letters,  one  4 to.,  four  8vo.,  undated  (1821) 

"  Keep  my  coming  as  secret  as  you  can — too  many  here 
know  it."  "  My  Mother  some  time  ago  sent  a  bottle  of  eye- 
water to  you  for  me.  I  hope  it  has  come  safely  to  your  hands 
and  that  you  will  be  able  to  forward  it  to  me  by  some  early 
opportunity.  Will  you  tell  the  Longmans  to  send  to  Villamil 
by  whatever  mode   they  can  manage  it,    '  The   theory  of   the 


92 

projection  of  Rockets  by  Colonel  Congrevc."  "  Yon  saw  the 
poem  of  Lord  Byron  to  me  correctly  (since  you  wrote)  in  the 
Chronicle  and  Examiner."  "I  am  at  present  working  as  hard 
as  the  world  will  let  me  to  patch  up  the  work  I  wrote  a  year  or 
two  ago  (Rhymes  on  the  Road)  for  publication  this  Spring,  in 
order  to  meet  the  heavy  debt  the  Longmans  have  against  me 
and  get  rid  of  the  Insurance." 

Seven  Letters,  one  4to.,  five  8vo.,   (two  of  two  sides)  one  12mo. 

7th,    14th,   21st,    22nd,   24th,  28th  and  31st   January, 

1822 
With  reference  to  Mr.  Kinnaird — "  You  will  see  by  his 
letter  (which  I  inclose)  that  the  sort  of  credit  he  offers  me  is 
no  additional  accommodation  whatever,  as  Lafitte  just  as 
readily  cashes  my  Bills  upon  you  as  they  would  on  Ransom ; 
and  the  only  difference  Kinnaird's  plan  would  make  consists  in 
its  being  more  round-about  and  troublesome."  "  I  am  at  pre- 
sent driven  to  meet  more  than  my  usual  scale  of  expenditure — 
so  much  so  that  I  think  it  will  be  prudent  (from  every  consi- 
deration) to  sacrifice  two  months  rent  of  my  lodgings  and  re- 
turn to  England  in  March  instead  of  May  as  I  first  intended. 
A  good  Summer  of  application  in  England  will  give  me  an 
overflowing  purse  once  more,  and  in  the  mean  time  I  know  I 
may  rely  upon  you  to  help  in  keeping  my  chin  above  water." 
"I  am  not  left  one  minute  to  myself  here."  "  Will  you  have 
the  goodness  to  look  among  the  books  and  things  of  mine  sent 
to  you  from  Mr.  Rogers,  for  a  Manuscript  book  called  '  Mrs. 
Brown's  Album,  and  send  it  immediately  to  Murray.  lie  and 
I  have  got  into  a  scrape  about  this  trumpery  volume,"  &c. 
"  Have  you  ever  done  anything  about  those  MSS.  of  John 
Brown's  that  are  in  your  hands?  I  hope  you  have  got  them 
copied,  as  otherwise  we  shall  be  called  upon  for  the  originals 
suddenly  and  lose  them  entirely.  Indeed  they  ought  to  have 
been  in  his  sister's  possession  long  before  now." — "I  suppose 
you  know  Stevenson  is   in   London."     "I  cannot  do  anything 


93 

here,  and  I  mean  to  holt  for  London  in  about  a  month  or  six 
weeks."  "  How  could  you  suppose,  my  dear  Sir,  that  I  meant 
to  Compare  what  Bishop  has  done  to  your  brother's  piracy  of 
the  Eighth  Number  ?  I  must  have  been  very  ingenious  indeed 
to  find  out  any  resemblance  between  the  two  transactions.  No, 
I  alluded  to  Stevenson's  continuation  of  the  Irish  Melodies 
with  another  Poet,  for  which  both  he  and  your  brother  (though 
cast  off  by  us)  thought  necessary  to  apologize  to  me,  and  I 
compared  it  to  Bishop's  having  done  the  very  same  sort  of 
thing  (though  our  ally)  without  thinking  it  necessary  to  make 
any  apology  at  all.  As  to  his  statement  about  Golding,  lam 
much  inclined  from  what  I  have  heard,  to  doubt  it,  as  I  have 
reason  to  think  that  the  plan  was  arranged  between  him  and 
young  Bailey  in  one  of  his  last  year's  visits  to  Bath." 

Four  Letters,    one   4to.,   two  8vo.,    one    12mo.,    3rd  and 

February,  4th  and  21st  March,  1822 
"  I   seem   destined  to  have  all  my  little  plans  for  quiet  and 
comfort  disturbed.     The  Smiths  are  leaving  La  Butte  (Mrs.  S. 
not  finding  it  agree  with  her  health),   and  now  if  I  go   to  the 
cottage  it  will  be  subject  to  the  chance  of  being  turned  out  by 
the  new  tenant,  whoever  it  may  be.     Meantime  our  furniture, 
my  books,  writing  things,  &c.  are  gone  out  there.     I  know  not 
what  to  do,   for  I   cannot  afford  to  take  any  other  place,  and 
this  is  full  of  inconvenience."     "  Few  things   could  give  me 
more  pleasure  than  those  symptoms    (however  slight)   of  a  re- 
conciliation between  you  and  Stevenson  ;  as  nothing  has  given 
me  more  pain,  since  I  knew  you,  than  the  interruption  of  har- 
mony (in  every  sense  of  the  word)  which  your  difference  with 
him  has  produced  among  us.     You  will  be  sorry  to  hear  that, 
after  having  arranged  for  the  retaking  of  our  cottage,  and  for 
Bessy's  departure  in  about  ten  days  in  order  to  get  it  ready  for 
me,   we  have  just  learned  that  the  '  old  Victualler '    (as  Lord 
Lansdowne  calls  him)   has  again  got  possession  of  it,  and  we 
are  ousted,   I  suppose,  for  ever,     This  disconcerts  my  plans 


94 

amazingly."  "  I  forgot  last  time  to  tell  you  that  I  had  re- 
ceived the  3rd  Number,  and  like  it  exceedingly.  I  only  hope 
the  public  will  be  of  my  opinion  about  it.  I  have  secured  the 
copyright  [in  France]  of  the  words  both  of  this  and  the  second 
Number  by  having  a  few  copies  printed."  "  Lord  John 
Russell  receives  and  franks  my  letters  for  my  Mother."  "  I 
am  still  in  hopes  that  I  shall  be  able  to  start  for  England  about 
the  latter  end  of  next  week,  but  it  depends  upon  what  the 
Longmans  do  with  respect  to  the  Bermuda  claim." 

Five  Letters,  four  4to.,  one  8vo.,  1st,  2nd,  8th,  9th,  and  11th 
April,  1822 
"  There  is  as  yet  no  letter  from  Longmans,  and  I  almost 
fear  there  will  be  some  obstacle  to  my  going — at  least  to  reside 
in  London."  "  Still  no  letter  to  decide  about  returning." 
"  Inclosed  is  the  letter  from  Longmans,  which  you  will  see 
dooms  me  to  further  banishment."  "  I  mean  to  start  at  all 
hazards  for  London  about  Saturday  next,  and  shall  set  to  work 
with  Bishop  for  you  till  it  is  finished.  Say  nothing,  however, 
about  my  coming,  as  it  may  perhaps  be  dangerous."  "  Not  a 
line  from  anybody — my  lodgings  are  half  dismantled.  I  have 
just  packed  off  my  fine  clock  to  be  sent  to  England.  My 
ro9tns  are  full  of  packing  cases ;  and  I  have  all  the  uncomforta- 
bleness  of  going  without  being  able  to  decide  whether  I  shall 
go  or  not.  The  person  to  whom  the  Villamils  have  let  La 
Butte  (Smith,  Lord  Carrington's  brother)  has  offered  us  our 
Pavilion  for  the  summer  in  the  kindest  manner."  "  I  mean  to 
start  on  Saturday." 

Six  Letters,  three  4to.,  three  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  9th,  20th, 

21st,  23rd,  27th,  and  28th  May,  1822 

"  Direct  to  me  at  '  La  Butte  Coaslin  a,  Sevres,  Paris.' ' 

"  The  worst  of  it  all  is,  too,  the  delay  and  difficulty  I  find  in 

getting  any  sort  of  a  quiet  apartment  to  fly  to.    All  are  so  dear, 

so  noisy,  so  diabolical.     Curse  the   place   altogether.     I   am 


95 

determined  to  make  anij  sacrifice  to  be  able  to  live  in  England 
once  more."  "The  a6100  I  draw  for  (your  name  is  a  tower  of 
strength  to  me),  shall  not  fall  upon  your  shoulders  when  due  ; 
no,  not  if  there  is  a  stiver  to  be  raised  upon  all  Parnassus. 
Seriously,  I  was  in  hopes  not  to  be  obliged  to  draw  upon  you 
for  some  months  to  come,  and  the  Bill  shall  be  renewed  when 
due."  "I  have  found  a  lodging  for  the  summer  (19,  Rue 
Basse  Passy,  a  Paris)  dear  enough  you  may  suppose,  from  the 
season  being  so  far  advanced — but  I  was  glad  enough  after  all 
my  distractions  to  get  anything."  Stewardship  at  Literary 
Fund. 

Seven  Letters,  one  4to.,  four  8vo.,  two   12mo.,  3rd,  Cth,   17th, 
25th,  27th,  2Sth,  and  30th  June,  1822 
"  I  wish  you  would  send  to  Longmans'  for  Keppel  Craven's 
account  of  the  Revolution  of  Naples."     "  I   am  sorry  to  see 
that  Bishop's  music  to  Coleman's  Opera  is   not  highly  spoken 
of.     It  seems,  however,  to  succeed."    "  I  have  hardly  strength 
to  hold  my  pen  with  the  excessive  heat  of  the  weather.     The 
thermometer  has  been  most  of  these  days  above  90,  and  if  it 
goes  on  increasing  as  the  summer  advances,  I  don't  know  how 
we  shall  bear  it."     "  I  am  just  now  writing  post  in  order  to 
get  a  Poem  out  which  I  have  begun  (or  rather  begun  to  finish) 
lately,  upon  finding  that  Lord  Byron  had  taken  the  same  sub- 
ject, and  I  want  if  possible  to  have  mine  published  before  his. 
Do  not  say  a  word  about  this,  as  Longmans  expect  quite  a  dif- 
ferent thing  from  me,  and  I  do  not  mean  to  tell  them  how  I 
am  employed  till  ready  to  go  to  press."    "  I  have  been  revising 
very  anxiously  the   Sacred  Songs,   and  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you 
that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  let  them  appear  as  they  are. 
There  must  be  at  least  five  or  six  new  ones  to  make  this  Volume 
at  all  what  it  ought  to  be."     "  I  am  very  quiet  here  and  work- 
ing away  I  trust  prosperously."     "  I  have  had  a  most  doleful 
letter  from  Count  de  Lagarde,"  &c. 


90 

Four  Letters,  one  4to.,  three  Svo.  (one  of  four  sides),  5th,  8tli, 
12th  and  I8th  July,  1822 
"  You  know  the  way  used  to  be  that  if  I  struck  out  a  sym- 
phony to  my  own  Songs,  well  and  good  ;  but  that  if  not,  Ste- 
venson supplied  inc."  Mentions  his  article  on  the  Fathers  in 
the  Edinhurgh  Review.  "  I  forget  the  Number,  but  it  is  one  of 
the  year  1817,  I  think"  "You  seem  doomed  to  disappoint- 
ments of  every  kind.  That  Air  (which  I  had  not  the  slightest 
idea  was  Bishop's)  has  been  floating  in  my  memory  for  many, 
many  years."  "  I  am  glad  that  you  are  able  to  print  Bishop's 
air."  "When  1  was  in  London  (this  is  entirely  between  our- 
selves) Jeffrey  offered  if  I  would  come  to  give  me  half  of  the 
Edinburgh  Review.  This  would  be,  I  understand,  between 
seven  and  eight  hundred  a  year  to  me,  and  would  not  take,  I 
should  think,  more  than  a  month's  labour  out  of  every 
quarter.  If  you  should  find,  in  a  little  time,  your  agreement 
too  burdensome,  I  have  strong  ideas  of  accepting  Jeffrey's  offer. 
I  have  had  also,  within  these  three  days,  through  Brougham, 
a  proposal  which  (though  I  cannot  accept  of  it)  flatters  me 
exceedingly.  It  is  that  I  should  replace  the  present  powerful 
Editor  of  the  Times  (who  is  ill)  in  writing  the  leading  Article 
for  that  paper.  It  was  proposed  to  pay  me  at  the  rate  of  twelve 
hundred  a  year,  but  being  thought  capable  of  wielding  such  a 
potent  political  machine  as  the  Times,  was,  I  own,  what  pleased 
and  flattered  me  most  in  the  transaction — the  more  perhaps 
from  my  feeling  conscious  that  I  do  not  deserve  it.  I  have 
written  to  decline  the  offer,  but  pray  do  not  breathe  a  syllable 
about  it  to  any  one." 

Seven  Letters,  8vo.,  1st,  2nd,  5th,  8th — 19th,  and  29th  August, 

1822 

"  Thank  you  very   cordially  for  your  last  friendly  letter  and 

the  kind  assurances  it  contained,  which  in  my  present  situation 

are,   I   assure  you,   very  comfortable  to  me."     "That   letter 


97 

which  you  sent  me  by  the  post  was  the  proposal  from  Brougham 
I  mentioned  to  you  about  the  Times.  It  came  quite  safe." 
"  Soon  after  I  received  your  notification  of  Bishop's  arrival  I 
went  in  quest  of  him,  and  thinking  Miss  Stephens  was  a  person 
most  likely  to  know  where  he  was,  I  called  there  and  left  my 
address  for  him.  Accordingly  he  came  out  here  yesterday,  and 
I  find  it  is  his  intention  to  stay  some  time  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Paris,  though  he  talks  of  going  '  for  a  month's  shooting  with 
Kalkbrenner'  about  a  hundred  miles  off.  This  I  suppose,  how- 
ever, is  only  '  a  flourish  of  trumpets.'  I  will  try  and  keep  him 
to  his  intention  of  doing  the  Nationals  here,"  &c.  "  Bishop 
dined  with  us  on  Saturday  to  meet  the  Forsters,  and  we  passed 
a  very  agreeable  day  of  it."  "  I  had  a  long  letter  from  Lord 
Lansdowne  the  other  day,  chiefly  on  the  subject  of  Sloperton 
Cottage,  which  there  appears  another  chance  of  our  having,  if 
we  chuse.  I  cannot  resist  quoting  a  paragraph  of  it,  to  show 
you  how  very  kind  he  is.  '  /  can  only  say  that  if  an  address 
from  all  the  neighbours  of  Sloperton  could  recall  you,  you 
would  speedily  receive  one,  of  the  most  cordial  and  affectionate 
kind,  and  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  Bowood  would  certainly 
not  be  behind  hand.'1  " 

Seven  Letters,  two  4to.,  four  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  one  l2mo. 

5th,  9th,  loth,  17th,  26th,  and  two  undated,  September, 

1822 

"I  am  very  near  the  end  of  my  Poem." — Bishop's  eccentric 

movements  in  Paris.     His  rapidity  of  composition  exemplified. 

Allusion  to  the  "  thoroughly   Miss's  Work,  or   (as  we  might 

have  called  it)   the   Miss's  Manual,"— (one   song  is  perhaps  a. 

little  too  free)  :   "  '  My  heart  and  lute  is  also  done.'  '       "I  have 

just  heard  from   Rees,  who  tells  me  there  is  hardly  a  doubt  of 

my  being  free  to  come  over  to  England  in  a  few  weeks  hence. 

Whatever   may  be  my  steps  with  respect  to  taking  of  Sloperton 

Cottage,  I  mean  to  pass  the  rest  of  next  winter  near  London." 

"  I  shall  wait  with  some  anxiety  your  answer  to  my  last.      Mv 

H 


98 

situation  is  rather  puzzling.  I  could  have  the  house  I  am  in  now 
for  six  months  more  at  so  low  a  price  as  twenty  pounds,  which, 
contrasted  with  the  expense  of  moving  to  England,  staggers  my 
resolves  considerably."  "Pray  inquire  if  my  clock  has  ar- 
rived." "  As  the  time  approaches  for  our  change  of  quarters,  I 
confess  the  operation  appears  so  formidable  as  almost, to  frighten 
me.  I  could  manage  to  totter  on  here  well  enough,  but  the 
radical  clearing  out  from  this  and  establishing  myself  anew  in 
England  will  take  such  lots  of  money  as  I  know  not  how  I  am 
to  achieve.  One  of  my  plans  of  finance  must  be  the  drawing 
upon  you,"  &c.  "  I  am  literally  on  my  beam  ends  in  the  way 
of  supply,  and  nothing  but  an  economical  country  life  and  hard 
work  will  right  me  again.  As  my  task  during  the  winter 
months  will  be  prose  (Sheridan's  Life)  I  shall  be  better  able  to 
work  for  you,  than  if  it  were  (as  has  been  the  case  lately)  a 
drain  on  the  poetical  stores  of  my  brain," 

Eight  Letters,  8vo.  (one  of   two  and  one  of  three  sides), — 7th, 
I Oth,  14th,  20th,  21st,  24th,  28th  Ocotober,  1822 

"  I  am  still  suspending  my  final  resolution  till  I  hear  from 
the  Longmans  and  from  you  more  fully."  "  I  have  ventured 
to  tell  the  Longmans  that  I  thought  you  would  have  no  objec- 
tion to  join  them  in  any  arrangement  they  might  make  about 
those  Irish  poems."  "  lam  still  without  answers  from  you  or 
the  Longmans  with  respect  to  the  very  urgent  subject  of  my 
supplies  for  going  or  indeed  even  for  staying.  Out  of  the  last 
hundred  I  was  obliged  to  pay  between  fifty  and  sixty  pounds 
for  a  Medal  of  Grattan,  [by  Galle\,  which  I  was  rash  enough 
to  undertake  here,  and  by  which  (though  I  shall  not  ultimately 
lose),  I  am  for  the  moment  inconvenienced  a  good  deal."  "  As 
to  continuing  the  Irish  Melodies,  you  so  perfectly  deserve  that 
I  should  sacrifice  a  little  of  my  own  judgment  and  feelings  on 
the  subject  to  your  wishes,  that  if  it  is  really  an  object  with  you 
to  go  on  with   them,   I  shall  most  readily  consent   to  it,  and  (I 


99 

need  not  add)  exert  myself  to  make  them  as  much  as  possible 
worthy  of  their  predecessors." 
Four  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  of  two  sides)  one  8vo.,   14th,    17th 
(two),  and  —  November,  1822 
"The  Dinner  to  me  has  gone  off  most  splendidly,  and  I  am 
now  in  all  the  bustle  of  departure."     Sends  three  verses  com- 
mencing : 

"  Then  be  it  so — if  back  to  heaven." 
And  two  verses  : 

"Come,  pray  with  me,  my  Angel  love." 
Referring  to  a  bill  drawn  on  Mr.  Power,  Mr.  Moore  writes — 
"  By  the  time  the  Bill  is  due,  I  shall  have,   please  God  (and 
the  Angels),  abundance  to  meet  it.     I  mean  to  start  in  the 
morning.'     "  You   shall  soon  have  Irish   Melodies.     I  have 
come  off  very  well  with  all  the  Reviews  except  that  in  the  Lon- 
don Magazine,  whose  violence  luckily  defeats  its  purpose— I 
think  I  know  the  reason  of  this  attack." 
Seven  Letters,  4to.,  six  undated,  one  "Thursday  Night,"  1822 
"  I  have  but  just  time  (having  been  all  day  at  a  Meeting  for 
the  unfortunate  Irish,  where  I  have  been  put  upon  the  Com- 
mittee) to  inclose,"  &c.     "  I  congratulate  you  on  the  decision 
I  have  seen  in  the  Papers."     "  I  have  not  felt  quite  well  for 
some  days  past,  and  a  letter  which  my  friend  Lord  John  has 
just  brought  me  from  the  Longmans,  and  which  shews  how 
very  languidly  and  hopelessly  the  Bermuda  negociation  is  going 
on,  by  no  means  adds  to  my  state  of  spirits.     However,  if  it  be 
my  doom  to  be  an  exile  for  the  rest  of  my  life,  I  must  only 
make  up  my  mind  to  it — the  only  thing  I   am  impatient  of,  is 
the  suspense." 
Six   Letters,  four  4  to.,   franked  by  the   Marquis  of  Lansdowne, 
John  Benett,  and  E.  G.  Stanley,  two  8vo.  (one  of  two 
sides),   4th,  9th,   15th,   17th,  22nd,  and  29th  January, 
1823 
"  Those  abominable  tailors  did  not  send  me  my  Coat  for  last 

h  2 


100 

night's  Fancy  Ball,  and  I  was  put  to  great  difficulties  by  the 
want  of  it."  "  How  famously  my  Angels  are  getting  on  !  In 
about  a  week  more  they  will  have  paid  off  my  debt  of  ^61000 
to  Longmans."  "  I  am  only  apprehensive  lest  the  efforts  of 
John  Bull  and  such  respectable  leaders  of  the  public  taste 
should  succeed  in  raising  a  cry  of  impiety  against  it,  which 
(no  matter  whether  deserved  or  not)  is  sure  to  do  me  mischief." 
"  I  don't  know  whether  Mrs.  Power  told  you  of  a  plan  I  had 
for  a  Collection  of  vocal  pieces,  to  be  set  by  different  com- 
posers— a  sort  of  Soiree  in  the  East,  where  girls  of  different 
nations  sing  the  songs  of  their  countries."  "  I  shall,  as  you 
wish  it,  immediately  set  about  rummaging  my  old  stock  of  Irish 
Melodies  for  another  Number,  and  need  not  say  that  I  shall 
endeavour  (for  my  fame  sake)  to  make  it  as  good  as  the  mate- 
rials left  will  allow  me."  "  I  am  called  upon  to  revise  for  a 
fifth  edition  of  the  Angels.  This  makes  0000  copies  sold  in 
little  more  than  a  month,  and  pays  off  my  debt  of  £  1000  to 
the  Longmans.  But  I  am  still  left  pennyless  amidst  it  all." 
"  You  see  I  am  in  want  of  music  paper,  and  have  been  obliged 
to  tear  a  pretty  book — so  send  me  some  of  all  sizes." 

Mr.  Moore  to  Mr.  Power.    Three  Letters,  two  4to.,  one  8vo., 

12th,  1 8th,  and  Sunday,  February  1823 

"  I   have  made  a  very  pathetic  duett  of  the   Irish  Country 

Dance  Cumwillian."*     "I  wish  you  could  get  Stevenson  over. 

If  you  have  any  channel  by  which  we  could  come  at  particulars 

of  the  life  of  Carolan,  Jackson,  &c.  it  would  be  a  very  nice  ad- 

*  Printed  in  the  Ninth  Number  of  the  Irish  Melodies,  Cummilum,  to  which 
Mr.  Moore  has  adapted  his  sparkling  lyric,  "  Fairest  put  on  a  while."  The 
melody  was  the  composition,  ahout  1770,  of  Francis  Ganey,  a  Piper  retained 
in  the  Gibbins'  family,  and  was  called  by  him  "  The  humours  of  Gibbins- 
town,"— -the  family  seat,  about  three  miles  South  of  Charleville.  'It  received 
its  name  of  Comhallaim,  which  is  the  Irish  for  a  foster-brother,  from  the  late 
Doctor  Gibbins  (the  father  of  the  present  Viscountess  Combermere),  speaking 
in  tho  Musical  Society  of  Cork  of  this  tune  as  composed  by  his  nurse's  son. 


101 

dition  to  our  next  mimber  to  prefix  some  sort  of  Memoir  of 
those  celebrated  Irish  Composers.  Think  of  this,  I  shall  write 
to-day  to  Paris  about  it,  as  Sir  J.  Burke  (who  is  now  there)  told 
me,  if  I  mistake  not,  that  Carolan  was  piper  or  harper  to  one  of 
his  ancestors."  "  Pray  tell  Mr.  Croker,  how  much  I  thank 
him  for  the  Transactions  of  the  Irish  Society,  and  that  I  shall 
be  most  grateful  to  him  if  he  will  keep  me  and  the  Melodies  in 
mind  during  his  studies  on  the  subject.  I  hope  you  are  pleased 
with  the  Review  in  the  Quarterly.  It  will  do  the  latter  num- 
bers good,  in  particular,  and  though  I  have  never  condescended 
to  quote  testimonies  from  Reviews,  yet  there  is  one  sentence  in 
this  article  which  I  think  you  ought  to  insert  in  your  next  Ad- 
vertisement of  the  Letter  Press  Melodies.  It  is  this  *  We  are 
of  opinion  that  the  fame  of  Mr.  Moore  will  ultimately  rest  upon 
his  productions  in  this  style  of  writing  ;  because  however  great 
his  merit  in  others,  this  is  the  style  in  which  he  has  never  been 
exceeded,  and  it  is  highly  probable  he  never  will  be.'  See  the 
last  Quarterly  Review." 

Four  Letters,  three  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  one  8vo.,    1st,  7th, 
9th,  and  17th  March,  1823 

"  I  must  trouble  you  to  make  enquiries  at  all  the  Bucking- 
ham Streets  in  London  for  me — the  French  Bed  that  was 
coming  to  us  (a  present),  and  which  was  put  on  board  at  Calais 
on  the  23rd  of  December  has  never  (that  I  know  of)  been  heard 
of  since.  It  was  directed  I  find,  to  Mr.  Moore,  Depute  (Mem- 
ber of  Parliament),  22,  Buckingham  Street,  without  adding 
Strand."  [Mr.  Power  s  private  residence.']  "  There  will  also 
be  some  things  left  at  your  house  from  Paris,  by  Sadi  Omback 
(a  gentleman  with  a  turban,)"  &c.  "The  poem  you  have 
marked  in  the  Literary  Gazette  is  an  evident  imitation  of  the 
Melologue,  but  not  very  well  calculated  for  Music."*  "In 
my  last  letter  to  you  there  were  two  important  things  I  omitted 

*  Entitled  "  the  Enchantress,''  and  signed  Isabel.     1  March. 


102 

— one  was  my  sincere  congratulations  on  the  termination  (and 
more  than  all,  such  an  honorable  termination)  of  your  law-suit 
in  Dublin — the  other  was,  with  respect  to  your  wish  of  an- 
nouncing a  new  Number  of  the  Irish  Melodies,  which  I  cannot 
of  course  have  the  least  objection  to." 

Three  Letters,  one  folio,    one  4to.,  one  8vo.,  2nd  and  lGth  May, 
30th  June,  1 823 

"I  have  had  a  most  stupid  cold  in  head  and  chest  since  I 
came  down,  which  even  this  Summer  weather  does  not  seem 
inclined  to  take  away."  "  I  am  reading  for  my  Greek  work 
which  I  shall  get  on  with  as  fast  as  possible.  The  correction 
of  the  Sacred  Songs  is  a  most  unlucky  interruption  to  it,  as 
there  is  nothing  I  take  so  much  time  about  as  the  dull  work  of 
correcting."  "  I  do  not  know  how  my  Fables  arc  going  on. 
There  were  3000  copies  in  the  first.  Edition,  and  Longmans' 
last  week  expected  to  be  soon  called  upon  for  a  Second.  I 
have  never  counted  upon  a  great  sale  of  this  book,  as  the  want  of 
personality  makes  it  much  less  generally  attractive  than  my 
former  squibs.  But  I  have  presumed  upon  it  to  the  amount  of 
between  three  and  four  hundred  pounds,  and  if  it  pays  that  I 
shall  be  satisfied." 

Four  Letters,  two  4 to.  (one  of  three  and  one  of  two  sides),  two 
8vo.    (ditto,  and   a  song  in   4to.  as  an  inclosure),    1 1th, 
16th,  17th,  and  22nd  July,  1823 
Details  accident  to  his  pony  carriage  and  party  who  were 
driving  in  it.     '*  You  have  now  the  whole  history  of  this  trans- 
action, and  this  fate  of  my   first  attempt  at  an  equipage  is  I 
think  a  broad  hint  to    me   that  I   never  was  intended  for  one." 
"  As  I  rather  think  the  year  I  am  now  entering  upon  will  be  the 
last  of  my  Lyric  life,  I   shall  try  to  put  you  in  good  humour 
with  me  at  parting,  by  making  my  farewell  strains  as  many  and 
as   good  as   I  can."     "  I   shall  send   you  what  I  think    a  very 
pretty  song,  and  (on  the  other  side)  some  words  which  I  began 


103 

and   which   (if  Bishop  will  condescend   to   set  them)  I  shall 
finish."     Sends  three  verses  of 

"  When  Love,  who  rul'd  as  Admiral  o'er 

His  rosy  Mother's  isles  of  light,"  &c. 
"I  have  changed  my  mind  about  goiug  first  to  London,  it 
would  take  so  much  more  of  my  time  and  money  (neither  of 
which  I  can  well  spare),  that  I  mean  to  start  direct  from  this  for 
Birmingham."  "  I  need  not  tell  you  that  what  I  send  is  not  a 
sacred  song— it  will  speak  for  itself  I  think  rather  gaily." 
Incloses  four  verses  of  "  Child's  Song," 

"  I  have  a  garden  of  my  own,"  &c. 
"  Let  me  know  what  you  think  by  a  line  to  96,  Abbey  Street." 
Two  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  8vo.  (two  sides),  Cork,   2nd  August, 
Sloperton,  29th  August,  1S23 
.   "  I  left  Dublin  with  Lord  and  Lady  Lansdowne,  on  Wednes- 
day.    We  slept  the  first  night  at  Kilkenny,  the  second  at  Lis- 
more  Castle  (the  Duke  of  Devonshire's),  and  last  night  arrived 
here."*  "  I  arrived  here  yesterday  evening  after  the  pleasantest 

*  Extract  of  a  letter  from  Cork  addressed  to  Mr.  Power  by  John  O'Dris- 
col,  Esq.  "  Moore  has  been  here;  after  an  absence  of  five  years  he  has 
revisited  Ireland,  and  now  for  the  first  time  beholds  "  the  sweet  South"  of 
that  country  with  which  his  name  has  become  popularly  associated  in  Song. 
He  visited  us  in  company  with  the  Marquis  and  Marchioness  of  Lansdowne, 
with  whom  I  had  the  pleasure  of  breakfasting.  The  party  are  on  their  way 
to  Kerry,  where  you  are  aware  that  his  Lordship  has  large  estates.  They 
visited  the  Porter  Brewery  of  Messrs.  Beamish  and  Crawford,  and  Moore  was 
much  amused  at  the  old  Cork  joke  of  the  nursery  maid's  reply  to  the  question, 
whose  child  is  that  ?  "  Beamish  and  Crawford's,  Sir."  He  spoke  of  our  friend 
little  Crofton  Croker,  who  he  said  was  full  of  capital  Cork  jokes  and  fun,  as 
well  as  of  feeling,  poetry,  and  taste  ;  and  I  thought  he  listened  with  particular 
interest  to  my  account  of  his  introduction  to  Mrs.  Garrick.  As  usual  a 
specimen  of  the  porter  was  offered  to  the  visitors  and  tasted  by  them.  At  the 
brewery  such  was  the  enthusiasm  of  the  reception,  that  no  sooner  was  the 
Poet's  back  turned  than  the  glass  out  of  which  he  had  sipped  was  seized  upon 
by  Mr.  John  Augustine  Shea,  a  poetic  clerk  in  the  establishment  [afterwards 
Editor  of  a  Newspaper  in  the  United  States']  who  quaffing  a  brimming  draft 


104 

mid  most  interesting  five  weeks,  I  have  perhaps  ever  enjoyed. 
The  kindness  and  even  enthusiasm  with  which  I  was  received 
every  where  in  Ireland  would  flatter  a  person  even  less  alive  to 
such  tributes  than  I  am.  In  some  things,  however,  I  was  un- 
lucky, and  one  of  them  was  in  the  very  cross  accident  of  Ste- 
venson's leaving  town  the  very  day  after  I  arrived  there  on  a 
long  and  distant  visit  to  some  of  his  Whiskey  cronies."  "I 
have  not,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  added  to  my  stock  of  Irish  Melo- 

from  the  same  goblet,  prefaced  no  doubt  by  a  corresponding  sentimental 
speech,  dispatched  the  relic  to  a  glass  cutter  in  Hanover  Street,  to  have  the 
name  of  MOORE  engraved  on  it  as  a  precious  memento  of  the  visit  of  Erin's 
Minstrel  to  the  Cork  Porter  Brewery.  Moore  went  down  the  river  (which  he 
as  truly  as  poetically  termed  '  our  noble  sea  avenue')  to  see  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Scully,  at  Cove,  and  the  steam  boat  and  quay  were  crowded  to  get  a  glimpse 
at  "  the  Irish  Lion,"  as  Lord  Lansdowne  called  him.  As  you  well  know, 
Moore  dresses  with  peculiar  neatness,  and  looked  that  morning  I  think,  par- 
ticularly well  in  his  smart  white  hat,  kid  gloves,  brown  frock  coat,  yellow 
cassimere  waistcoat,  grey  duck  trowsers,  and  blue  silk  handkerchief  carelessly 
secured  in  front  by  a  silver  pin  ;  he  carried  a  boat  cloak  on  one  arm,  and 
walked  with  a  brown  silk  umberella,  for  which,  however,  he  had  no  require- 
ment, as  the  morning  was  bright,  balmy,  and  beautiful — "  quite  beautiful," 
as  he  himself  observed  to  me.  Yet  in  the  assembled  crowd — for  it  literally 
was  so  to  witness  the  embarkation — there  was  a  general  feeling  of  disappoint- 
ment,—" that's  he"—"  the  little  chap— talking  to  big  Jacob  Mark,"  [the 
American  Consul  at  Cork,  who  had  married  a  Miss  Godfrey].  "Well  to  be 
sure  if  that's  all  of  him,  what  lies  they  do  be  telling  about  Poets— sure  I  thought 
I'd  come  out  to  see  a  great  joint  (giant)  as  big  as  O'Brien,  at  any  rate — for 
wasn't  Roderick  O'Connor  roaring  and  bawling  through  all  the  streets  last 
night  that  the  Great  Poet  had  come  amongst  us  from  foreign  parts."  "  Oh 
then  Roderick  was  drunk,  sure  enough."  "Well,  'tis  a  darling  little  pet  at 
any  rate."  "  Be  dad,  isn't  he  a  dawny  creature,  and  dosn't  he  just  look  like 
one  of  the  good  people."  "  Well,  any  how,  God  speed  them  !"  and  these 
various  opinions  resolved  themselves  only  into  a  faint  cheer,  as  Moore  stepped 
on  board  the  boat.  Doctor  Tuckey  has  gone  down  the  river  with  Moore, 
deputed  to  secure  him  for  a  complimentary  public  dinner  to  be  given  to  him 
by  the  citizens  of  Cork,  I  have  not  heard  the  result — but  suspect  Moore  will 
jmt  accept." 


105 

dies,  but  have  however  laid  in  a  few  recollections  and  feelings 
about  Ireland  which  will  not  fail  to  shew  themselves  in  what- 
ever else  I  may  do  upon  the  subject."* 
Four  Letters,  three  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  one  8vo.,  3rd,  12th, 
18th,  and  24th  September,  1823. 
"  I  send  you  an  Irish  Melody,  and  one,  I  think,  of  the  right 
sort.  On  looking  over  my  stock,  I  find  I  may  proceed  with  the 
9th  Number,  and  as  I  know  it  is  what  you  wish  most,  I  shall 
persevere  with  it  till  finished."  "Send  me  a  Copy  of  Hunt's 
cheap  edition  ot  the  last  '  Don  Juan.'  "  Sends  three  verses  of 
"  As  Vanquish'd  Erin  wept  beside."  "  I  have  marked  the  pas- 
sage from  which  I  think  the  two  figures,  both  of  Erin  and  of 
the  Demon,  may  be  best  combined"  in  an  illustrative  drawing. 
"  I  send  you  an  Irish  Melody,  a  second  verse  to  '  Quick, 
we  have  but  a  Second,'  and  two  verses  of  'They  know  not 
my  heart,'  which  I  have  made  out.  I  do  not  know  why  this 
was  set  aside,  as  it  is  as  good  as  most  of  them.  I  have  had  a 
message  from  Stevenson  through  my  sister  to  say  that  he  will 
bring  over  the  Sacred  Songs  to  me  himself,  as  he  is  coming  to 

*  This  is  indeed  quite  evident  in  the  IXth  Number  of  the  Irish  Melodies, 
which  was  entered  at  Stationers  Hall  on  the  1st  November,  1824.  "  Of  the 
twelve  Songs  which  it  contains,  nine  have  reference  to  local  feelings  or  tra- 
ditions, or  to  circumstances  which  arose  out  of  the  Poet's  tour.  Thus,  '  Sweet 
Innisfallen,'  and  '  'Twas  one  of  those  dreams,'  obviously  allude  to  Mr. 
Moore's  visit  to  Killarney  ;  and  '  In  yonder  valley  there  dwelt  alone,'  is  said 
to  have  originated  in  an  anecdote  connected  with  O'Sullivan's  Cascade.  The 
Song  commencing  '  By  the  Feal's  wave  benighted,'  is  founded  on  a  romantic 
anecdote  in  the  history  of  the  Geraldines.  These  four  songs  fairly  belong  to 
the  County  of  Kerry.  Then,  descriptive  of  a  glance  at  a  Map  of  Ireland, 
preparatory  to  the  tour  we  find,  '  Fairest  put  on  a  while.'  On  meeting  with  a 
party  of  old  friends  in  Dublin,  '  And  doth  not  a  meeting  like  this.'  On  Irish 
politics,  '  As  vanquished  Erin  wept  beside,'  &c.  and  '  Quick  we  have  but  a 
second,'  is  quite  the  song  that  might  have  been  suggested  by  a  pleasant 
travelling  party  being  hurried  off  from  an  agreeable  meeting.  The  horn  of 
the  mail-coach  guard,  or  the  voice  of  some  equally  urgent  personage  is  abso- 
lutely ringing  in  the  car." 


100 

the  Birmingham  Music-Meeting.  We  shall  see.  There  are 
now  seven  Irish  Melodies  done,  and  a  month  more  will  complete 
the  Number."  "  I  shall  send  Crokcr's  book  up  to-morrow,  as 
I  think  I  have  some  more  Music  to  be  bound." 

Five  Letters,  one  4to.  (frank  of  John  Benett),  three  8vo.  one 
12mo.  2nd,  9th,  17th,  21st,  and  24th  October,  1823. 
"  I  should  be  delighted  to  be  in  town  to  see  my  friend  Abbot, 
but  I  am  too  hard  at  work  to  be  any  where  else  but  where  I 
am.  Tell  him  that  I  wish  he  could  spare  a  few  days  to  run 
down  to  us."  "  I  shall  be  glad  if  he  will  take  over  with  him 
to  Dublin  five  of  those  Medals  sent  to  you  from  Paris.  They 
are,  tell  him,  for  Harry  Bushe,  and  he  will  learn  the  best  way 
of  forwarding  them  to  him  from  Dublin.  Give  him  my  very 
best  regards.  There  are  few  more  worthy  persons."  "  Ste- 
venson has  not  made  his  appearance,  and  1  begin  to  fear  we 
shall  not  see  him  here.  Indeed,  when  I  gave  him  the  things 
to  do,  I  had  but  slight  hopes  of  his  paying  much  attention  to 
them.  Lady  Bective  is  anxious  beyond  anything,"  &c.  "  I 
have  run  over  here  (Pyt  House)  to  our  County  Member's  to 
take  a  glimpse  of  Fonthill,  which  is  in  his  neighbourhood,  and 
take  advantage  of  his  frank  to  tell  you,"  &c.  "  You  have  here 
a  Melody,  which  (with  '  The  Banquet  is  over')  makes,  I  believe, 
the  twelve.  As  some,  however,  of  those  I  sent  are  but  experi- 
ments, I  shall  go  on  writing  four  or  five  more  to  secure  as  good 
a  set  as  I  can." 

Five  Letters,  two  4to.,  three  8vo.  (two  of  two  sides),  7th,  11th, 
15th,  21st,  and  28th  November,  1823. 
Refers  to  a  Ballad  introduced  into  "M.  P."  "  Every  six- 
pence I  get  goes  to  keep  down  my  bills  here,  and  I  shall  not 
have  a  quiet  mind  till  they  are  all  discharged."  "  Your  present 
from  the  Fish  Market  tempted  me  into  asking  our  new  neigh- 
bour (the  rich  Lord  of  Spy  Park)  to  dine  with  us.  He  was 
unluckily  engaged,  but  said  he  would  come  some  other  dav  this 


107 

week,  so  that  I  am  in  for  what  they  call  a  '  blow-out'   to  him 
on  Thursday,  and  must,  therefore,  commission  you  to  send  me 
by  to-morrow's  coach  to  Devizes,  a  Fish  as  good  as  that  which 
you  so  kiudly  gave  us  for  Sunday  last,  and  which  was  excellent." 
"Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  call  at  Bicknell's  (or  Moore's 
rather),  the  hatter  at  the  corner  of  New  Bond  Street,  and  tell 
him  to  send  me  a  good  Water-proof  hat  for  the  Winter,  as  I 
have  none  but  a  White  one,  which  in  the  month  of  December 
looks   rather  poverty-stricken.     It  would  be  cheaper  to  buy  a 
hat  here,  but  the  truth  is  I  have  not  so  much  ready  money  to 
spare.     Tell  him  to  send  an  oil  skin  cover  with  it  to  keep  out 
the  rain."     "  I  have  no  objection  of  course  to  Bishop  doing 
these  last  things   you  mention,   but  it  must  be,  as  Stevenson 
used  to  do  (that  is  to  say  if  you  publish  them  singly)  merely 
correcting  my  arrangements  of  them,  (which  I  shall  send  you) 
and  without  putting  his  name  to  them.     This  is  the  way  I 
must  have  all  my  single  things  done  hereafter."     "  In  those 
works  of  Campbell's  and  Bishop's  you  have  sent  me,  both  Poet 
and  Musician  labour  most  painfully."     "  You  have  also  here  au 
Irish  Melody  to  an  air  which  I  have  written  out  from  memory, 
but  I  am  sure  not  correctly.     It  is  one  of  Bayley's,  and  very 
prettily  done  by  him,  '  O  leave  me  to  my  sorrow' — pray  send 
me  an  accurate  copy  of  it.     My  verses,  of  which  there  will  be 
a  good  many  verses,  are  founded  on  an  Irish  story."     ["  By  the 
FeaVs  ivave  benighted.^     "I  am  going  to  give  myself  a  day's 
relaxation  to-morrow  with  my  friend  Bowles  to  hear  the  Italian 
Opera  at  Bath." 

Two  Letters,  8vo.,  llth  and  20th  December,  1823. 

"  I  send  you  three  of  the  Sacred  Songs  which  may  be  pro- 
ceeded on  immediately.  I  have  entirely  re-written  the  words  of 
one  of  them."  "  I  send  you  three  more  of  the  Holy  ones,  which 
I  have  been  twisting  into  all  sorts  of  shapes.  I  shall  try  and 
find  a  good  subject  for  Braham.  The  Sacred  Songs  ought  to 
be  as  much  as  possible  arranged  for  single  voices." 


108 

Five  Letters  and  proof  of  Advertisement  of  the  Music  to  the 
Songs  in  Lalla  Rookh,  one  4to.  four  8vo.  (one  of  three 
and  three  of  two  sides),  one  12mo.  all  undated,  1823. 

—  "it  contained  a  very  splendid  book   published  at  Berlin, 
respecting  the  Costumes  worn  at  the  Royal  Fete,   founded  on 
Lalla  Rookh.     I  am  grieved  to  the  heart  to  perceive  by  your 
last  that  this  eternal  and  infernal  law  suit  with  your  brother  is, 
after  all,  likely  to  begin   again."      "  The  cursed  money,  I  fear, 
will  run   short.     I  have  been   obliged  to  pay  £40  within  these 
few  days  to  one  of  the  furnishers  of  our  house,  who  was  to  have 
waited  till  Christmas,  but,  being  threatened  with  arrest  himself, 
I  could  not  refuse  him.     I  shall,  however,  make  a  bouhl  push 
to  get  to  town.      I  hope  y^u  saw  how  kindly  Sir  J.  Mackintosh 
quoted  the  Fables  at  the  Grand  Dinner."     "I  shall  look  over 
Callaghan's  Melodies  for  the  purpose  you  mention,  but  do  not 
recollect  that   there  is  any  plagiarism,   except  of  my  general 
style."     "  I  have  entirely  re-written   *  Lord,   now  thy  golden 
Sun,'  and  the  second  verse  to  '  War  against   Babylon'  is  about 
the  tenth  I  have  tried."     "I  have  not  yet  decided  whether  I 
shall   have    another   verse    to    'Lord   of   Heaven.'"     "Many 
thousand  thanks   for  the  .£300 — it  was  an   enormous  pull  at 
once."     Bowood,  Sunday.     "  I  want  twenty  pounds  by  return 
of  Post  (if  possible)  to  pay  a  Carpenter's  bill  I  have  been  rather 
dunned  for."     "I  shall  now  send  you  alternately  a  Spanish, 
Sacred,  and  Irish  Melody.     I  wish,"  &c.     "I  saw  him  [Sir 
John  Stevenson]  but  that  once,  which  was  only  for  about  ten 
minutes,  in  Catalani's  dressing  room,"  &c. 

Six  Letters,  three  4to.  (frank  of  the  Marquis  of  Lansdownc) 
three  8vo.  (one  four  and  one  two  sides),  2nd,  11th, 
— th,  17th,  20th,  and  31st  January,  1824 

"  I  like  some  of  Bishop's  Greek  work  exceedingly.  He  has 
done  Sappho's  Song  very  much  as  I  wished  it  to  be  done,  par- 
ticularly the  ./;/•  part.     The  Glee,  too,  of  *  The  Sky  is  bright  ' 


109 

is  very  happily  imagined,  but  I  must  have  some  talk  with  him 
about  the  Symphony  of  it,  which,  to  my  ear,  is  not  pleasing." 
"  We  are  rather  in  a  fuss  to-day,  on  account  of  an  announced 
visit  from  my  friend  Edward  Moore,  to  dine  and  sleep.  This 
is  not  the  weather  for  Town  Dandies  to  come  and  see  Cottages 
in."  "My  time  is  sadly  broken  in  upon,  and  the  Lansdowne's, 
though  very  delightful  neighbours,  are  very  idling  ones."  "  I 
wish  you  would  look  for  the  books  of  Doctor  O'Leary,  and 
send  them  to  me."  "  I  am  very  much  pleased  indeed  with  the 
way  the  Irish  Melodies  are  arranged,  some  of  the  symphonies 
are  quite  beautiful."  "  I  shall,  I  think,  ask  about  ten  days' 
holidays  from  you  now,  as  I  want  to  get  this  Irish  Pamphlet  out 
early  in  February."  "  I  send  you  the  song  of  Bowles's." 
"  Take  care  of  this  Poem  for  me  till  we  meet,  and  also  of  the 
Music  book,  which  contains  the  original  arrangement  '  Where 
is  your  dwelling,  ye  sainted  V  This  Music  book  is  very  pre- 
cious to  me."  "  I  would  not  lose  that  book  for  a  good  deal." 
"  On  the  other  side  you  have  the  first  verse  of  the  Mountain 
Sprite."  "I  wish  you  to  get  for  me,  as  soon  as  possible,  the 
Pamphlet  of  Hibernicus  lately  published."  "  I  did  not  at  all 
expect  to  have  the  Irish  Melodies  come  so  thick  on  me,  as  I 
thought  we  were  to  get  the  Sacred  Songs  out  of  the  way  first. 
However,  I  suppose  it  is  that  infernal  Stevenson  who  still  delays 
the  latter.  The  lead  will  suffer  for  it,  as  I  have  material  altera- 
tions to  make  in  those  you  sent  me."  "  The  title  for  Bowles's 
Song  is  to  be  thus  in  the /font,  '  Go,  beautiful  and  gentle  Dove,' 
a  Song  from  an  Oratorio  called  'the  Ark,'"  &c.  "Thank 
Croker  for  the  books  he  has  lent  me,  particularly  O'Leary' s 
Tracts.     The  last  things  of  Hibernicus  are  of  no  use  to  me." 

Four  Letters,  one  4to.,  three  8vo.,  6th,    15th,  20th,  and  22nd 

Febuary,  1824 

"  I  think  I  have  succeeded  very  happily  in  my  second  verse  to 

'  Sing — Sing,'  but  do  not  consign  it  to  the  lead  for  a  few  days, 

in  order  that  I   may  have  time   to   consider  over  it   a  little." 


110 

"  How  dreadful  it  is  to  think  of  your  being  again  plunged  into 
all  the  horrors  of  law,  by  this  disagreeable  brother  of  yours." 
"  My  friend  Bowles  thinks  the  verse  I  sent  you  the  other  day, 
to  '  Sing — Sing,'  the  prettiest  thing  I  ever  wrote.  You  will  see 
in  the  next  Westminster  Review  a  very  flattering  and  useful 
Article  about  me  and  the  National  Melodies."  "  I  am  afraid 
you  sometimes  think  me  not  attentive  enough  to  your  interests  ; 
and  it  is  true  that  my  literary  labours  take  also  a  great  deal  of 
my  attention.  But  what  am  I  to  do?  My  great  delight  would 
be,  if  I  could  afford  it,  to  confine  myself  wholly  to  Songs  and 
Music,  but  there  are  so  many  calls  on  me  besides,  that  I  am 
obliged  to  labour  a  little  at  every  thing.  At  this  moment  my 
hand  is  so  weary  with  transcribing,  that  I  doubt  whether  you 
will  be  able  to  make  out  this  scrawl." 

Five   Letters,  three  4 to.   (one  unsigned)  two  8vo.   (one  of  two 
sides),  2nd,  6th,  7th,  9th,  and  13th  April,  1824 

Derby.  "  I  came  over  here  for  a  day  or  two,  chiefly  to 
attend  the  Lancastrian  Dinner,  where  my  health  was  drank 
three  times  three,  &c,  and  where  I  literally  electrified  them 
with  '  the  Shamrock  of  Erin  and  Olive  of  Spain.'  I  have  been 
singing  away  here  at  the  rate  of  two  dozen  Songs  a  night  — 
excellent  audiences."  Dedication  of  Volume  of  Sacred  Songs 
to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Parkinson,  D.D.,  Archdeacon  of  Leicester, 
Chancellor  of  Chester,  and  Rector  of  Kegworth.  "  I  suppose 
you  saw  the  paragraph  about  the  Captain  in  the  Times.  It 
was  most  kindly  and  admirably  done,  and  must  serve  the  book 
a  good  deal.  I  had  a  letter  yesterday  from  Lady  Holland,  full 
of  praise  of  it.  This  is  all  I  know  about  the^'matter  as  yet. 
The  Longmans  wrote  to  me  to  correct  for  another  Edition  — 
but  I  have  not  time,  and  besides,  I  doubt  whether  it  will  be 
called  for  as  soon  as  they  think." 

Five  Letters,  two  4to.,  three  8vo.  (one  of  three  and  one  of  two 
sides),   16th,  — th,  19th,  21th,  and  29th  April,  1821 


Ill 

"  I  have  had  letters  full  of  praise  of  my  book,  from  Lords 
Lans  downe,  Holland,  John  Russell,"  &c.  "  I  am  'delighted 
to  hear  that  Mrs.  Power  likes  my  book,  and  hail  her  approval 
of  it  as  a  good  omen  of  its  circulation  among  female  readers, 
whom  I  certainly  did  not  much  expect  to  interest.  The'pro- 
mise  is  very  fair  at  present,  for  they  are  going  to  press  with  a 
third  Edition."  "I  have  been  obliged  to  invite  some  people 
suddenly  to  dinner  on  Wednesday,  and  therefore  must  trouble 
you  to  dispatch  me  a  dish  offish  by  to-morrow's  Coach.  Sal- 
mon I  should  prefer,  but  send  whatever  is  best."  "  I  have  had 
great  difficulty  in  finding  pretty  Airs  to  fill  up  our  Irish  Num- 
ber, and  have  tried  several  with  words  without  pleasing  myself." 
"  Many  thanks  for  the  lobster  and  prawns,  which  were  very 
much  wanted  for  the  second  Course.  They  and  the  Salmon 
were  very  good."  "All  that  Bishop  can  claim  in  the  transac- 
tion will  be  *  revised '  or  '  corrected  '  by  H.  Bishop.  According 
to  the  first  Title  you  wrote  to  this  Spanish  Glee,  I  am  excluded 
altogether  from  any  share  in  the  Musical  part,  though  the 
choice  of  the  Air,  the  alterations  in  it  (often  so  great  as  to 
make  the  Air  almost  my  own),  the  suggestion  of  the  Harmony 
and  accompaniments,  and,  in  short,  all  that  gives  character  and 
originality  to  the  Music  proceeds  from  me.  This  would  not 
be,  in  my  mind,  fair,  and  I  must  do  what  I  can  to  put  all 
claim  to  it  out  of  the  question.  If  you  think  Bishop's  name, 
placed  prominently,  is  likely  to  increase  the  attraction  of  the 
Song,  that  is  quite  another  thing,  and  I  shall  most  heartily 
yield  to  it,  because,  after  all,  attraction  is  the  great  object,  and 
I  would  not  let  any  little  vanity  on  my  part  interfere  with  it." 

Three  Letters,   8vo.  (two  with  notes  on    the  back),   1st,    3rd, 

and  8th  May,  1 824 

"  You  see  Rock  is  in  the  Third  Edition.     I  should  think  it 

has  already  paid  all  my  arrears  to  Longmans.     What  a  lucky 

hit  every  way !"     "  Now  you  have  I  think  the  second  verses  of 

all  the  twelve  Irish  Airs  for  this  Number."     "  How   long  the 


112 

mechanical  part  takes !  This  I  never  sufficiently  consider." 
"  The  parcel  for  Bowles  arrived  safe  and  he  is  highly  delighted 
with  the  way  his  Song  is  hrought  out."  "  I  wish  the  Captain 
to  have  his  fling  before  I  draw  on  the  Paternoster  Bank  again. 
They  are  getting  a  Fourth  Edition  ready.  I  have  had  a  letter 
of  thanks  from  the  Catholics  of  Drogheda." 

Six  Letters,   one   folio,  two  4to.,  two  8vo.,  and  one  12mo.,   2nd, 
5th,  8th,  15th,  20th,  and  29th  June,  1824 

"  I  have  left  Croker's  three  music  books,"  &c.  Advertise- 
ment to  the  Sacred  Songs,  respecting  three  melodies  introduced 
into  the  work  from  a  publication  by  Mr.  Gardiner.  [See 
page  1  17] — "and  you  had  better  say  the  same."  rt  I  did  not 
mean  the  substance  of  the  accompaniment  to  be  altered  in  the 
first  bars,  but  merely  the  placing  of  the  notes  in  the  chords, 
which  did  not  look  to  me  as  if  their  tails  were  turned  in  the 
proper  direction — a  thing  I  know  very  little  of  myself,  but 
about  which  I  see  arrangers  are  very  particular  now-a-days." 
"  I  shall  not  forget  the  Princess  Augusta ;  indeed  I  men- 
tioned it  to  Lady  Donegall  before  I  left  town."  "  You  will 
see  that  in  '  Sweet  Innisfallen,'  I  have  restored  a  passage  in 
the  seventh  verse  to  what  it  was  before."  "  You  saw  what 
courteous  epithets  a  Rev.  gentleman  at  the  Baptist  Meeting 
bestowed  on  Capt.  Rock.  This  is  quite  right,  and  just  the 
effect  I  meant  to  produce." 

Six  Letters,  one  4to.,  five  8vo.,  2nd,   5th,   8th,    10th,  20th,   and 
26th  July,  1824 

Tears  up  a  bill  stamp  by  mistake — "  which  is  4s  Id  out  of 
the  pockets  of  myself  and  heirs  for  ever."  "There  is  a  Mr. 
Baldwin,  who  writes  to  me  about  a  poem  of  his  on  Fox,  and 
says  you  sent  it  to  me  a  fortnight  ago.  In  what  shape  is  it  ? 
MS.  or  printed  ?  Those  authors  do  so  pester  me,  that  I  really 
ought  to  have  a  secretary  expressly  to  answer  and  to  attend  to 
them."     Have  you  read  '  Rock  detected?'  there  are  some  odd 


113 

things  in  it,  and  a  few  not  bad — but  it  is  no  answer."  "  If  the 
sheets  of  the  letterpress  of  our  Ninth  Number  are  not  printed 
off,  I  should  like  to  make  an  alteration  of  a  word.  In  the  last 
verse,  '  And  doth  not  a  meeting,'  instead  of  '  Let  sympathy 
promise'  I  should  wish  'Let  sympathy  pledge  us  !'  "  "  I  have 
forgot  always  to  ask  whether  you  sent  a  copy  of  the  Sacred 
Songs  to  the  Reverend  Dedicatee — if  not,  pray  do."  "I  have 
found  the  looking  over  these  Songs  a  more  tough  task  than  I 
expected,  from  the  brutes  attempting  to  put  words  under  the 
music.  I  never  saw  such  hash  as  they  made  wherever  they 
could."  "Send  the  inclosed  immediately  to  Mr.  Rogers." 
"  I  have  been  looking  over  what  is  done  of  the  Greek  work,  and 
the  only  things  worthy  of  being  retained  in  it,  are  Bishop's  glee, 
'The  Sky  is  bright.' — His  Song,  'When  o'er  her  loom  the 
Lesbian  maid.'  My  own  glee,  '  Here  while  the  moonlight  dim,' 
and  one  selected  thing — the  rest  must  be  thrown  out." 

Six  Letters,  8vo.,  1st,  9th,  13th,  20th,  and  25th  (two), 
August,  1824 
"  Being  obliged  to  devote  generally  one  morning  in  every 
week  to  answer  all  the  begging  letters,  bothering  letters,  &c. 
&c.  from  all  sorts  of  paupers,  and  poets,  and  poetesses  that 
accumulate  on  me  through  the  course  of  it,  I  inclose  you  a  few 
of  them  by  this  post  to  save  the  poor  devils  a  little  postage,  and 
you  will  have  the  goodness  to  see  them  safely  put  into  the  Two- 
penny for  me.  Bowood  is  going  to  be  full  of  all  my  town 
friends,  Rogers,  Lord  John,  the  Hollands,  &c.  &c.  so  that  I 
shall  be  routed  up  sadly  by  them.  You  shall,  however,  have 
your  share  of  me  next  week."  "  I  send  you  a  song  of  my  own 
on  the  Balaika  subject,  which  I  gave  Bishop  and  which  he  did 
not  quite  hit  my  fancy  upon."  "I  wish  you  particularly  to 
inquire  where  Catalani  is,  and  give  her  husband  this  letter  or 
forward  it  to  him  if  he  is  out  of  town.  It  is  to  ask  him  to  give 
us  a  room  in  their  Hotel  at  Salisbury  for  the  Music  Meeting. 
*     *     *     They  did  lodge  at  a  wine  merchant's  (a  Frenchman) 

i 


Ill 

in  Pall  Mall — .it  all  events  my  friend  Edward  Moore  in  Cleve- 
land Row  would  be  able  to  tell  you  where  tbey  arc."  "  As  wc 
are  to  have  the  christening  of  little  Bustle  (as  we  call  him),  on 
Saturday,  I  shall  trouble  you  to  send  down  by  Friday's  coach 
a  couple  of  good  lobsters  which  is  all  I  think  we  shall  want  for 
the  luncheon."  Lonyleat  (Marquis  of  Bath's)  "  I  have  been 
run  away  with  from  home  to  this  most  princely  place  by  a  party 
from  Bowood,  which  may  occasion  some  delay  in  my  communi- 
cation with  you."  "  I  have  been  kept  in  such  a  whirl  since  I 
last  wrote,  that,  though  I  have  contrived,  in  the  midst  of  it  all 
to  write  a  song  of  four  verses,  yet  it  is  not  in  a  state  fit 
to  send  it  to  you.  Some  people  are  coming  to  dine  with  me  on 
Friday,  and  I  shall  want  some  fish  down  by  to-morrow's  coach. 
I  leave  it  to  yourself  to  chuse  the  best  for  me.  Where  do  you 
think  I  am  invited^  to  go  next  week  ?  to  Lord  Bathurst's ! 
rather  not  have  turbot  for  Friday's  dinner,  as  we  have  difficulty 
in  dressing  it — but  any  other  fish  you  find  good,  and  enough 
for  eight  people." 
Two  letters,  8vo.,  6th  and  13th  September,  1824 

"  You  will  perceive  that '  Thou  art  not  dead'  alludes  (under 
the  name  of  a  celebrated  antient  Greek)  to  Lord  Byron.  I  have 
not  been  able  to  spare  the  time  for  Lord  Bathurst's."  "  When- 
ever you  see  the  Longmans,  I  wish  you  would  ask  them  for  a 
ring  left  with  them  for  me."  "I  send  you  two  things  for  the 
Greek  work — one  of  them  with  music,  which  I  rather  think  will 
silit  the  young  ladies — it  had  better,  however,  be  set  a  note 
lower." 

Six   Letters,  three  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  three  8vo.,  1st,  3rd 

(two),  15th,  18th,  and  2Gth  October,  1824 

"  With  respect  to  the  lines  to  be  engraved  under  the  plates 

[IX.   Number  Irish  Melodies]  I  should  like  to   have   merely 

'  Sweet  Innisfallen,  fare  thee  well,'  and  under  the  other  the  four 

lines. 

'When  will  this  end,  ye  rowers  of  Good,'<Yc 


115 

let  them  be  copied  correctly  from  the  letterpress.  I  was  much 
surprised  to  see  the  plate  of  the  Dsemon,  as  I  thought  you  had 
decided  for  the  one  flying  up  in  the  air."  Fish  for  seven  or 
eight  people  and  a  good  lobster — "  put  a  bottle  of  anchovy 
sauce  in,  as  what  we  get  at  Devizes  is  very  bad.  This  is  the 
last  time,  I  hope,  I  shall  have  to  trouble  you  in  the  piscatory 
line  till  spring."  "  Did  you  see  Sbiel's  flaming  speech  about  me 
at  Cork,  on  my  health  being  drunk  four  times  four?"  "We 
have  our  friend  Corry  from  Ireland  with  us,  so  you  may  sup- 
pose I  have  not  much  time  for  the  moment  to  myself."  One 
side  of  the  4to.  letter  relates  entirely  to  Evenings  in  Greece. 
"  If  Captain  Medwin  is  as  inaccurate  about  more  important 
things  as  he  is  about  the  circumstances  of  my  first  acquaintance 
with  Lord  Byron  he  will  have  a  good  deal  to  answer  in  various 
quarters.  It  is  not  my  intention  to  notice  any  thing  till  I 
bring  out  my  own  book."  Erratum  in  the  Song,  "And  doth 
not  a  meeting,"  fourth  verse,  for  '  the  friends  we  hold  dear,'  read 
the  'few  we  hold  dear.'  "You  see  how  they  are  hacking 
and  vulgarizing  the  subject  of  Lord  B.  before  I  can  come  to  it. 
Medwin's  book,  as  far  as  I  have  seen  by  the  extracts,  is  full  of 
inaccuracies — every  thing  he  tells  about  me  is  wrong.  You 
see  he  has  even  transported  little  Tom  to  Venice." 

Seven  Letters,  two  4to.,  four  8vo.,  one    12mo.,  2nd,  5th,    8th, 
11th,  17th,  20th,  and  29th  November,  1824. 
Parcel  for  Mr.  C.  Sheridan,  22,  Duke  Street,  St.  James's. 
"  The  Ninth  Number  I  think  looks  very  well."  "  I  rather  think 
there  is  such  a  Song  of  Lord  B.'s  as  you  mention,"  &c.     "Eye 
water  that  is  in  the  parcel  by  Lord  Lansdowne."     After  an  ex- 
planation  respecting  expenditure,  Mr.  Moore  adds,  "  I  never 
before  had  such  a  mountain  of  difficulties  to  cut  through — but 
as  I  feel  my  reputation  was  never  higher,  I  do  not  despair." 
"  I  am  happy  to  see  by  an  extract  in  the  Irish  papers  that  the 
Courier  has  (I  suppose  with  some  reservation)  praised  the  New 
Number   of  the  Irish  Melodies  very  warmly.     You  will  teU 


116 

Bishop  when  you  sec  him  that  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  with  the 
way  the  symphonies  and  arrangements  are  done."  "  I  got  a 
beautiful  air  from  Lady  Pembroke  the  other  day,  and  thought 
it  would  suit  English  words,  but  I  can  make  nothing  of  it, 
though  it  haunts  me  through  all  my  walks — no  metre  will  go 
gracefully  to  it."  "I  was  obliged  to  give  up  Lady  Pembroke's 
air  as  impossible."  "  I  have  been  already  favoured  with  the 
precious  paper  you  sent  me,  from  the  Dublin  Mail  Office,  and 
am  rather  afraid  from  the  tone  of  it  that  my  friend  Sir  John, 
at  least,  has  something  to  do  with  it.  I  am  glad  to  see  they 
are  so  annoyed — I  mean  those  Orange  scamps."  "  I  have  got 
the  Music  of  the  Duenna."  "  I  inclose  a  Russian  air  (which  I 
got  from  Lady  Pembroke)  with  words,  and  a  Poem  for  Bishop 
to  set  for  the  Greek  Work."  "I  hear  from  Dublin  that  the 
sale  of  the  Ninth  Number  is  'very  brisk'  there,  and  I  trust  you 
have  taken  care  to  secure  fair  play  for  yourself  in  the  profits. 
I  see  your  brother  has  advertised  it,  with  the  addition  of  '  very 
celebrated  work.' " 

Five  Letters,  four  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  one  8vo.,  6th,  10th, 
12th,  13th,  and  28th  December,  1824 
"  You  may  tell  him  [Bishop]  that  I  am  quite  charmed  with 
his  setting  of  the  two  fountains.'  The  words  are  not  bad  (for 
me),  and  he  has  caught  the  feeling  of  them  most  successfully. 
I  would  only  suggest  to  his  better  judgment  to  leave  out  the 
imitative  passage  on  the  words  '  running  side  by  side,'  which  I 
own  I  don't  like  ;  it  would  be  much  better  simply"  "  You  see 
there  is  a  good  article  in  the  Edinburgh  on  the  Captain."  "  If  I 
could  once  get  this  infernal  Sheridan  work  off  my  hands,  there 
is  no  doubt  of  my  getting  on  flourishingly,  for  I  am  determined 
now  to  try  every  thing,  Novel,  Opera,  &c.  &c.  till  I  get  over 
my  difficulties."  An  extraordinary  unsigned'  letter, 
respecting  the  state  of  Moore's  finances,  and  his  specu- 
lation upon  his  literary  life,  and  means  for  living. — 
"  I  was  beginning  to  waver  about  going  up,  but  your  letter  and 


11/ 

one  from  Recs  have  decided  me.  So  that  you  may  expect  me 
{not  to  a  beefsteak,  for  I  rather  think  I  shall  dine  on  the  road,) 
but  to  oysters  and  a  glass  of  brandy  and  water  between  nine  and 
ten."  "  It  is  quite  awful  to  see  how  the  money  slips  out  of  my 
hands  here  in  Christmas  bills." 

Five  Letters,  two  irregular  size,  three  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides), 
Tuesday,  the  others  undated,  (1S24) 
"  Your  Dedication  is  thought  to  be  quite  right.  I  would 
advise,  however,  your  asking  some  one  whether  '  To  the  King's 
most  excellent  Majesty,'  would  not  be  more  in  form,"  "  I  send 
you  some  lines  which  Lord  Byron  gave  me  *  *  *  and  if  you 
get  them  set  and  think  it  worth  while,  you  may  claim  them 
as  property.'  '"  I  see  Bishop  has  published  his  other  '  National 
Melodies.'  How  do  you  like  this  1  The  very  thing  that  Stevenson 
and  your  brother  (though  cast  off  by  us)  thought  necessary  to 
apologize  for  in  the  case  of  the  Irish  Melodies,  Bishop  (though 
our  ally)  has  done  without  any  apology  at  all."  "  I  have  got 
rid  of  the  poney  *  *  *  (and  though  it  cost  me  thirteen 
guineas)  I  have  been  obliged  to  give  six  pounds  with  it  in  ex- 
change for  a  poney  whose  price  is  only  twelve.  This  is  the 
poor  man's  luck  always."  "I  could  not  find  either  the  air  or 
former  words  of  Castle  Blarney,'  but  I  have  written  other  words, 
which  I  dare  say  are  better  than  those  I  did  before."  "  I  shall 
be  much  disappointed  if  Stevenson  does  not  come  to  me,  as  I 
looked  with  certainty  to  our  finishing  this  number  together." 
"  Castle  Blarney  will  be  a  great  beauty  in  the  Number."  "  I 
have  written  to  your  brother  to  say  that  I  shall  henceforth  leave 
the  whole  matter  to  be  settled  between  you  and  him.  My 
friend  the  Rector  here  is  going  to  call  a  meeting  for  a  Petition 
against  the  Roman  Catholics,  so  you  see  what  Orthodox  society 
I  have  got  into." 

Mr.  Gardiner  to  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Power,  two  Letters,  one 
•4to.,  one  8vo.,  with  Note  in  Mr.  Moore's  Autograph, 
3rd  June,   1824 


118 

Respecting  two  Airs  taken  from  Mr.  Gardiner's  Sacred  Me- 
lodies introduced  into  the  Second  Volume  of  Moore's  Sacred 
Songs.     (See  page  112.) 

Three   Letters,  8vo.    (one  of   two    sides)   3rd,    IGth,    and   30th 
January,  1825 
Subscription  to  Athenaeum  Club.  "  I  did  not  like  the  last  alter- 
ation of  '  Thou  art  not  dead,'  and  inclose  it  now  in  the  state  I 
wish  it  to  be.     By  the  time  he  [Sir  Henry  Bishop]  has  made 
the  slight  change  that  is  necessary  (and  pray  say  how  sorry  I 
am  to  have  given  so  much  trouble  about  it),  I  shall  have  a 
second  verse  for  it  different  from  that  which  it  bears  at  present." 
"You'll  pay  the  two-pence  on  the  inclosed  letter— it  is  to  one  of 
those   begging    devils,    who  little   know  what  a   pauper  they 
apply  to.     I  am  pestered  with  letters  of  all  kinds  and  from  all 
quarters — America,  Germany,  France,  and  Birmingham. — The 
last  was  from  a  young  gentleman  wishing  to  be  employed  as 
my  amanuensis,  and  asking  what  remuneration  I  could  give 
him !"     "  I  have  been  in  the  receipt  of  great  honour  and  glory 
at  Bath  during  this  last  fortnight.     The   Speech  I  made  at  the 
Literary  Institution  (under  the  noses  of  two  Bishops)  made  a 
great  noise  among  the  natives  there,  though  the  Bath  News- 
papers have  (as  usual)  played  the  devil  with  my  eloquence  in 
their  reports.     There  were  also  allusions  to  me  in  the  Prologue 
at  the  Amateur  Play  which  tried  my  modesty  uot  a  little." 

Seven  Letters,  five  4to.,  two  8vo.«,  2nd,  4th,  8th,  (two)  16th, 
23rd  and  24th  February,  1825 
"  When  I  last  wrote  to  you  we  were  in  great  anxiety  about 
Phipps  our  neighbour,  who  had  gone  off  to  Havre  to  fight  a 
duel  with  another  neighbour — symptoms  of  rural  peace  and 
innocence.  They  returned  after  firing  two  shots  each.  One 
of  Phipps's  balls  having  gone  through  his  antagonist's  "hat,  and 
the  last  shot  of  the  latter  having  produced  a  contusion  on 
Phipps's  foot."     "  I  can't  find  the  second  verse  and  be  d — d 


119 

to  it,  so  must  write  another."  The  Spring  of  Finance  is  run 
quite  dry  with  me,  and  '  as  a  Hart  pantcth  after  the  water" 
hrook,'  so  do  I  after  the  water-mark  of  a  Bank  of  England 
Note.  If  you  can  snare  me  Twenty  Pounds  I  will  repay  it  in 
March,  when  I  must  draw  either  upon  Hook  or  Crook— that 
established  firm  of  all  ways-and-means  gentlemen."  "  I  have 
been  wholly  engaged  tbese  three  or  four  days  by  a  disagree- 
able quarrel  between  two  of  our  neighbours  which  you  shall 
hear  more  of  in  a  day  or  two."  Subscription  to  Athenoeum 
Club — Accommodation  Bills — "  What  the  devil  are  we  to  do  ? 
I  have  no  doubt  things  will  get  much  worse."  "  I  now  get 
The  Times  for  nothing." 

Two  Letters,  8vo.,  1-lth  and  29th  March,  1825 

"  I  send  you  a  ditty  of  my  own,  which  I  think  rather  ori- 
ginal. I  hope  you  observe  what  a  composer  I  have  become 
lately.  I  mean  to  persevere  in  it."  "The  Irish  business  never 
before  looked  half  so  promising."  "  It  is  very  unlucky  that 
Bishop  should  have  delayed  the  Greek  work  so  long,  as  I  am 
going  to  press  with  Sheridan  and  shall  be  hunted  by  the  Devils 
for  the  next  two  months.  I  think  you  had  better  make  sure 
at  all  events,  of  the  National  Melodies."  "  This  life  of  She- 
ridan has  been  a  heavy  mill-stone  round  my  neck,  and  even 
now  I  doubt  whether  I  shall  be  able  to  have  it  out  before  the 
season  dies  away." 

Five  Letters,  three  4to.  (one  franked  by  John  Benett),  two  8vo, 

(one  unsigned),  Cth,    11th,  25th,  28th  and  2Sth  April, 

1825 

"  Such  quantities   have  I  got  to   do,  that  it  will  be  six  weeks 

at  least  before  I  can  stir  from   this."     "  Herewith  you  have 

(though  I  say  it  myself)  a  very  pretty  glee  and  the  writing  of 

this  as  well  as  '  Ship,  ahoy,'  (which  is  the  most  popular  thing  in 

my  own  singing  I  have  done  for  some  time)  has  put  a  plan  into 

my  head,"  &c.     "  I  am  in  great  apprehension  about  my  poor 


120 

father,  and  dread  every  letter  from  Dublin."  [Mr.  Moore's 
father  survived  for  some  months  after  this.  He  died  on  the 
17 th  December  following,  in  Great  Britain  Street,  Dublin. 
See  page  124.]  "  I  have  heen  at  work  for  the  Press  since  ten 
this  morning  and  it  is  now  dinner  time,  when  I  hope  I  may 
make  up  to  myself  by  a  hearty  repast  upon  your  excellent 
mackerel,  for  which  a  thousand  thanks."  "  My  hand  is  too 
tired  to  write  any  more." — "  My  great  object  is  not  to  press 
upon  you  more  than  is  absolutely  necessary,  but  by  a  sort  of 
kite-flying  process  between  you  and  the  Longmans  to  keep  my- 
self afloat  till  better  prospects  open  upon  me.  As  there  is 
plenty  of  capital  amongst  us — on  your  side  in  credit  and  cha- 
racter, on  that  of  the  Longmans  in  money,  and  on  mine  in 
head  it  cannot  be  called  mere  paper  work  among  us,  and  with- 
out borrowing  from  friends  (which  is  the  last  thing  I  shall  ever 
be  driven  to),  or  sinking  myself  deeper  with  you  and  the  Long- 
mans than  I  should  wish,  I  have  no  other  mode  of  getting  on 
for  this  year."  "  This  Sheridan  work  is  a  most  heavy  task  and 
it  would  now  take  me  the  whole  of  the  summer  to  finish  it  as 
I  ought — but,  though  I  shall  be  very  late,  it  must  be  dis- 
patched, now  I  am  about  it."  "The  sooner  I  have  some  money 
the  better." 

Five  Letters,  four  4to.,  one  8vo.,  2nd,  9th,  16th,  22ud,  23rd 
May,  1825 
"  I  send  you  a  very  slight  sketch  of  my  Glee  as  I  am  not 
able  to  write  down  what  I  mean.  It  is,  I  think,  a  very  pretty 
thought,  but  my  musical  powers  are  not  equal  to  the  handling 
of  it.  Bishop  would  have  made  a  fine  thing  of  the  words.  I 
hope  however  he  will  give  a  few  touches  of  harmony  and  some 
brilliant  symphonies  to  express  the  flying  away  and  returning 
of  Spirits,  I  shall  acknowledge  them  specially  in  the  preface  to 
the  Glee,  and  take  that  opportunity  of  saying  what  I  think  of 
his  beau  talent.  Tell  him  this."  "  I  had  an  idea  of  running 
up  for  two  days  next  week,  in  order  to  attend  the  Literary 


121 

Fund  dinner,  but  it  would  not  be  prudent  in  any  way  except 
for  tbe  honour  and  glory  at  the  dinner,  and  my  friend  Mackin- 
tosh in  tbe  Chair."  "The  ten  pounds  arrived  safe,  and  was  a 
very  welcome  out-rigger  to  tbe  £20."  "  I  am  just  setting  off 
for  Devonshire  to  Dr.  Bain,  to  make  some  enquiries  about  She- 
ridan. As  the  Longmans  insist  upon  paying  my  expenses,  I 
have  the  less  remorse  in  taking  the  trip."  "  I  did  not  get  home 
from  Doctor  Bain  till  Friday  night  and  found  myself  so  over- 
whelmed with  proofs  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  copy  out  the 
Glee."  "  I  want  you  also  to  send  me  down  by  Tuesday  s  Coach 
some  salmon  (if  not  too  dear)  and  a  lobster — enough  for  six 
people.  I  am  obliged  to  give  a  dinner  to  our  new  Parson  on 
"Wednesday.  If  the  salmon  should  be  unapproachable  send 
one  good  dish  of  some  other  fish." — Sends  second  verse  to 
"  Slumber,  oh  Slumber." 

Two  Letters,  4to.,  11th  and  20th  July,  1825 

"  As  I  take  for  granted  you  are  back  again,  I  write  a  line  to 
welcome  you,  and  to  hope  that  you  have  had  more  fun  than 
your  pill-garlick  friend  (still  hard  at  work)  has  had  in  the 
interval."  "  I  was  glad  to  find  you  had  returned  safely  from 
your  trip  into  foreign  parts,"  &c.  "  What  weather  it  is  !  it 
quite  disables  me  from  business.  I  have  bad  an  awful  proof 
within  these  few  days  of  the  uncertainty  of  life.  On  Monday 
I  was  one  of  the  pall-bearers  at  the  Funeral  of  a  gentleman  of 
this  neighbourhood,  and  yesterday  one  of  my  brother  pall- 
bearers (a  man  of  large  fortune  in  this  county)  dropped  sud- 
denly dead  in  his  own  grounds,  from  the  heat.  Sudden  death, 
indeed,  formed  part  of  our  conversation  in  the  mourning  coach 
on  Monday,  and  I  rather  think  this  poor  man  expressed  (as  I 
know  I  did  myself)  a  preference  for  that  mode  of  dying.  God 
bless  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  preserve  both  you  and  me  long 
to  our  families  and  customers."  * 

•  In  Moore's  Diary,  as  edited  by  Lord  John  Russell,  there  is  an  odd 
blank,  or  a  confusion  of  dates,  between  June  and  August,  1825,  Vol.  IV. 


122 

Three  Letters,  4to.   (one  franked  "  Lansdownc"),  2nd  and  5th 
August,  and  29th  September,  1825 

"  I  want  you  to  call  at  my  last  lodgings,  5S,  Jermyn-street, 
and  know  from  them  if  I  can  have  the  same  rooms  on  Saturday 
next.  You  must  say,  however,  that  in  this  dead  time  of  the 
year,  I  must  have  them  much  cheaper,  and  if  not  shall  go  hack 
to  Duke-street.  Do  not  tell  any  one  I  am  coming  to  town,  for 
though  there  are  but  few  there,  there  are  always  enough  to 
pester  me,  and  I  shall  be  so  busy  that  I  must  make  it  a  point  not 
to  stir  out  to  see  a  soul  before  3  or  4  in  the  day.  A  chop  with 
you  at  the  latter  hour  will  be  often  acceptable."  With  reference 
to  lodgings — "  but  I  must  now  trouble  you  to  secure  those  in 
Duke-street,  any  part  of  the  house,  except  the  garrets  and  par- 
lours. If  I  cannot  be  accommodated  there,  pray  go  to  19, 
Bury-street,  and  ask  whether  I  can  have  the  back  rooms  that 
Mr.  Corry  had — at  a  cheaper  rate,  of  course,  on  account  of  the 
time  of  year." 

Five  Letters,  three   4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  two  8vo.   7th,   9th, 
11th,  13th,  and  15th  October,  1825 

"  I  have  been  a  good  deal  idled  since  I  came  home  by  living 
chiefly  at  Bowood,  I  hope,  however,  soon  to  send  you  two  or 
three  things  which  I  have  on  the  stocks.  You  see  by  the  Times 
and  Courier  of  yesterday  that  they  have  already  begun  pillaging 
my  work — what  a  gauntlet  I  shall  have  to  run !  Lord  John 
Russell  has  offered  me  a  seat  in  his  carriage  to  Paris,  and  Lord 
Lansdowne  offers  me  lodging  in  his  apartments  while  there,  so 
that  I  really  believe  (in  order  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  the 
critics)  I  shall  accept  this  offer  for  two  or  three  weeks.  You 
shall  have,  however,  enough  for  Bishop  to  employ  himself  upon 

p.  298.";  Moore,  according  to  his  published  Biography,  records,  on 'the  2Gth 
June,  that  a  few  days  before  he  had  attended  the  funeral  of  Henry  Joy's 
father,  as  pall-bearer,  at  Chippenham.  The  date  of  July  20,  1825,  in  this 
letter,  and  it  is  a  remarkable  one,  is  in  Mr.  Moore's  autograph. 


123 

during  the  time."  "  I  hope  you  will  find  the  game  we  send 
good."  Moore's  great  anxiety  respecting  the  Life  of  Lord 
Edward  Fitzgerald — the  handsome  conduct  of  the  Longmans, 
"  three  hundred  pounds  more  to  my  credit,  in  addition  to  the 
original  sum  stipulated,"  &c.  "  I  forgot  to  answer  your  ques- 
tion ahout  the  Sheridan  Song — I  would  say,"  &c.  "  I  have 
made  up  my  mind  to  go  somewhere,  hut  whether  to  Paris  or 
Scotland  have  not  yet  decided.  I  rather  incline  to  the  latter." 
"  Bessy  had  a  taste  of  the  fish  yesterday.  I  was  away  at  Bath 
attending  the  Mayor's  dinner  to  meet  Lord  Camden,  &c.  &c. 
but  to-day  we  are  to  feast  together  upon  it.  There  have  two 
or  three  things  happened  rather  to  shake  my  purpose  of  going 
to  Paris,  one  of  which  is  Lord  John's  change  of  mind  on  the 
subject,  and  the  other,"  &c.  "  As,  however,  I  feel  I  shall  not 
be  able  to  disengage  my  mind  from  Sheridan  (being  kept  in  a 
perpetual  state  of  excitement  and  fidget  by  the  letters  I  receive 
on  the  subject  every  morning)  without  some  change  of  scene, 
and  as  the  Lansdownes  expect  me  to  join  them  at  Paris,  I  have 
pretty  nearly  decided  on  taking  the  journey  alone,"  &c. 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.,  one  8vo.,  3rd,  — ,  and  20th  November, 
1825 

Edinburgh. — "  I  arrived  here  yesterday  evening,  after  a  most 
delightful  visit  of  four  days  to  Sir  Walter.  I  really  never  was 
before  so  much  interested  or  pleased.  His  cordiality  to  me 
was  beyond  what  I  could  expect,  and  his  cordiality  kept  me  in 
a  constant  state  of  agreeable  excitement  the  whole  time.  No- 
thing can  exceed  the  kindness  I  meet  with  everywhere.  I  am 
to-day  going  to  pass  a  couple  of  days  with  Jeffrey.  They  talk 
of  a  Public  dinner  to  me,  but  I  cannot  stay  long  enough  to 
accept  it;  You  may  easily  suppose  I  have  not  much  time  for 
letter  writting,  but  I  knew  you  would  be  anxious  to  hear  of  my 
arrival  in  Edinburgh,"  &c.  "  I  am  afraid  the  medley  I  inclose 
will  puzzle  Bishop,"  &c.     "  I  arrived  safe  at  home  on  Thurs- 


124 

day  night,  having  been  detained  two  or  three  days  longer  than 
I  intended  at  Edinburgh  by  an  attack  of  cholera  morbus,  which 
is  very  prevalent  there.  Not  feeling  very  strong  after  this  ill- 
ness I  was  glad  to  get  home  as  directly  as  possible  without 
paying  my  promised  visits  to  my  friends  in  Derbyshire.  I 
would  not  have  lost  my  trip  to  Scotland  for  any  consideration. 
In  addition  to  the  interest  which  all  I  saw  there  excited  in  me, 
the  cordiality  and  distinction  with  which  I  was  received  by 
every  one  has  left  an  impression  on  my  mind  not  easily  to  be 
effaced.  I  am  sorry  to  say,  however,  that  besides  the  remains 
of  my  illness,  I  have  brought  home  a  bad  cold  with  me,  which 
so  stupifics  me  that  I  can  hardly  see  the  paper  while  I  write. 
Strong  temptations  were  held  out  to  me  to  settle  in  Edinburgh, 
but  the  climate  would  by  no  means  suit."  "  I  shall  now  turn 
to  the  completion  of  our  Greek  work  and  set  of  Glees  as  speedily 
as  possible." 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  8vo.  (three  sides  and  franked  "  Lans- 
downe"),  6th  and  12th  December,  1825 
"  In  order  to  give  you  an  idea  what  our  Greek  wrork  is  to  be, 
I  send  you  (hastily  copied  out)  the  Poetry  that  is  to  follow  the 
opening  glee,"  &c.  "It  will,  I  flatter  myself,  be  rather  an 
elegant  work,  and,  as  a  thing  to  be  read  and  sung  at  the  Piano 
Forte,  is  likely  to  succeed."  "  I  was  just  preparing  to  send 
you  off  the  inclosed  and  some  more  of  the  intermediate  verses 
for  the  Greek  work,  when  I  received  a  letter  from  Dublin 
saying  that  my  father  is  dangerously  ill.  This  alas  is  what  I 
have  long  expected  [see  page  120],  and  it  brings  not  only  much 
affliction  but  much  embarrassment  with  it.  I  must  set  off  for 
Dublin  to-morrow,  and  try  what  I  can  do  to  comfort  my  poor 
mother,  who  I  fear  is  but  little  prepared  for  the  shock."  "  The 
words  written  on  the  other  side  [for  first  Evening  in.  Greece, 
with  numerous  corrections,  some  lines  in  pencil.^  I  wish 
Bishop  to  set  for  Voices  and  a  Chorus."  "  I  have  sad  scenes 
before  me  in  Dublin,  and  shall  require,  I  feel,  all  my  fortitude 


125 


to  bear  up  against  them.  God  bless  you."  "  Again,  God 
bless  you  and  spare  all  those  you  love  to  you.  Do  not  show 
this  letter  to  Bishop,  but  have  what  I  say  about  business  copied 


out." 


Four  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  unsigned),  two  8vo.,  undated,  (1825) 

"  My  old  friend,  Lord  Strangford,  has  just  caught  hold  of 

me,  and  may  delay  a  little  my  visit  to  you."       "  I  think  the 

success  of  my  book  has  inspired  you — you  have  written  so 

eloquent  a  letter.     Many  thanks  for  it  !     I  assure  you  among 

the  numerous  tributes  I  have  received  on  the  occasion  there  is 

none  I  value  more  highly."  [Title  of  Song  from  life  of  Sheridan 

in  Mr.  Power's  autograph  attached.']      "  I  send  you  the  letter 

I  wrote,  or  at  least  begun  to  you  on  Sunday,  which  will   be  at 

least  a  preparation  for  our  conference  on  the  subject   of  it. 

Pray,  look  at  Southey's  letter  in  the  evening's  Courier— it  is 

quite  infamous.''     "  I  slept  like  a  top  after  my  two  beakers." 

Seven   Letters    and   Notes    (some   curious),  8vo.,    and  irregular 

sizes,  "  Holland  House,  Sunday,"  "  Tuesday  Evening," 

"  St.  James's  Place,  Wednesday  Morning,"  and  undated 

one,  on  scrap  at  the  back  "What  time  *     #  — 11  to  go 

dinner?     F.  Burdett."  (1825)  ? 

"  I  don't  know  whether  I  left  my  engagement  with  you  to 

day  loosely  or  not.     I  hope  the  former  ;  my  impression  is  that 

I  said  I  would  let  you  know  whether  I  could  come,  and  I  trust 

this  is  the  case,  as  I  should  be  extremely  sorry  to  have  made 

any  mistake  on  the  subject.      The  truth  is,  this  establishment 

[Holland  House']  breaks  up  to  day,  (the  whole  family  setting 

off  for  the  next  eight  months  to  Paris),  and  they  made  it  such  a 

point  that  I  should  pass  the  last  day  with  them,  that  I  could 

not  refuse.     I  shall  call  upon  you  to  morrow."     "  Here  I  am, 

and  shall  be  glad  to  see  you.     If  Murray  should  be  with  me 

when  you  come,  I  know  you  will  not  mind  waiting    *         *     " 

I  mean,  if  I  can  manage  it  to  dine — because  I  think  it  is  safest 

— at  least  for  a  day  or  two ;  but  I  may,  perhaps,  contrive  to 


126 

come  and  sup  with  you."     "  My  usual  luck  in  never  losing  a 
paper,"  &c. 

Five  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  franked  "  Lansdowne"),  three  8vo. 

(one  of  two  sides),  9th,  16th,  22nd,  30th,  and  31st  January, 

1826 
Dublin.  "  Just  as  I  was  ready  to  start  last  week,  and  had 
reconciled  my  poor  mother  to  parting  with  me,  the  wind  set  in 
so  strong  from  the  Eastward,  that,  for  four  days  no  hoat  of  any 
kind  could  venture  out,  and  the  harhour  of  Dunleary  is  covered 
with  wrecks.  The  wind,  however,  though  still  contrary,  is  to- 
day more  moderate,  and  to-morrow  evening  I  mean  to  sail  for 
England.  You  shall  hear  from  me  soon  after  my  arrival  at  the 
Cottage,  where  new  cares  await  me,  hut  where  I  shall  still,  at 
least,  have  cpuet  and  leisure,  and  be  able,  I  trust,  to  work  and 
redeem  myself."  "  I  send  you  the  introduction  to  '  Weeping 
for  thee'  [First  Evening  in  Greece],  and  think  you  will  say  I 
have  seldom  written  better.  The  next,  which  I  shall  set  about 
immediately,  will  be,  '  When  the  Balaika,'  "  &c.  "  How  you 
must  congratulate  yourself  these  times,  on  not  having  given  in 
to  the  Bill  line  like  others.  Poor  Sir  W.  Scott  is,  as  far  as  him- 
self is  concerned  (for  he  had  alienated  his  landed  property  to 
his  son  on  his  marriage)  almost  ruined.  He  had  nearly  £70,000 
out  in  paper,  to  meet  which  he  has  nothing  but  the  help  of 
friends,  and  he  must  now,  like  myself,  work  hard  and  live  sav- 
ingly. This  is  too  bad  and  I  grieve  for  him  from  my  heart. 
With  respect  to  myself,  if  I  but  once  knew  how  to  get  through 
this  vear,  I  should  have  no  fears  about  the  next.  But  I  cannot 
work  as  I  ought  while  my  means  of  present  subsistence  are  so 
uncertain." 

One  Letter,  4to.  (four  sides),  20th  January,  1826 

"  Sends  upwards  of  eighty  lines  for  First  Evening  in  "Greece. 
The  alterations  in  which  as  subsequently  printed  are  very  nu- 
merous and  curious.  "  You  will  see  by  this  that  I  have  come 
to  the  Pyrrhic  Dance,  I  shall  not  be  sorry  if  Bishop  has  not  yet 


127 

done  it,  as  I  should  like  him  to  read  over  the  verses  that  intro- 
duce it."  "  The  poetry  you  see  is  extending  heyond  my  esti- 
mate. I  suppose  you  heard  that  the  King  ordered  his  librarian 
Sumner  to  review  me  in  the  Quarterly.  How  I  have  escaped 
this  cannonade  in  the  last  number  I  cannot  think ;  but  perhaps 
they  are  keeping  it  for  The  Representative."* 

Three  Letters,  two8vo.,  one  l2mo.,  8th,  11th,  and  2Gth  February, 
1826 
"  Didn't  I  write  to  you  before  I  went  to  Dublin  about  a  man 
who  pledged  a  music  book  with  me  and  wanted  a  sovereign  ? 
what  did  you  do  about  it  ?  "  "I  think  I  have  at  last  hit  upon 
a  glee,  which,  with  a  little  cooking,  will  do  to  keep  company 
with  the  Watchman  and  the  Ships."  "  What  a  splendid  pre- 
sent came  down  in  the  box  !  All  Scott's  Works  from  himself 
and  from  poor  Constable."  "  That  man  has  written  to  me 
again  for  some  money — the  fellow  who  sent  the  Music-book. 
What  did  you  give  him  ?  " 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  franked  by  John  Benett),  two  8vo., 
14th,  17th,  22nd,  and  27th  March,  1826 
"  You  cannot  imagine  anything  to  come  luckier  than  your  sal- 
mon— for  we  had  that  very  morning  been  led  into  asking  Colonel 
Trevanion  (a  great  friend  of  Burdett's  who  is  on  a  visit  to  the 
Phipps's),  and  had  literally  nothing  but  a  turkey  to  give  our 
party,  when  your  fish  most  seasonably  arrived."  "  I  have  been 
for  a  long  time  past  solicited  from  all  quarters  to  ask  your  per- 
mission for  the  printing  of  the  Air,  '  Mary,  I  believed  thee  true,' 
in  a  Collection  of  Parodies  that  Lady  Clarke  is  publishing." 
"  Bishop's  note  is  such  an  appeal,  as  I  know  (with  you  who  are 
so  indulgent  to  us  workmen,  when  lazy)  will  not  fail  to  procure 

*  The  Representative  was  a  morning  newspaper  undertaken  by  Murray, 
with  a  small  capital  for  such  a  speculation.  The  Editor  was  understood  to 
have  been  the  Rt.  Hon.  Benjamin  D'Israeli.  After  a  few  months  of  feverish 
existence  it  expired. 


128 

him  a  respite,  but  it  is,  I  must  say,  very  hard  upon  you."  u  I 
take  this  opportunity  of  sending  the  Music  Book  which  that 
begging  gentleman  sent  me,  which  you  may  return  to  him  if  he 
should  happen  to  be  troublesome."  "  You  shall  have  my 
answer  about  Carolan  in  my  next."  "There  is  a  man  has 
written  to  me  from  Ireland,  who  says  you  are  publishing  some 
airs  of  his — he  is,  I  think  a  Professor  of  the  Irish  language.  I 
have  mislaid  his  letter,  and  want  to  answer  it — pray  let  me 
know  his  name  and  address." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.,  two  8vo.,  1st,  10th,  17th,  23rd  of  April, 
182G 
"  I  have  had  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Arkwright  about  her  Songs, 
which  she  is  willing  at  last  to  publish — but  I  am  sorry  for  your 
sake  to  say  that  it  is  on  very  different  terms  from  those  on 
which  I  expected  formerly   to  get  them  for  you.     She  now 
wishes  to  make  a  present  to  some  friend  of  hers  who  is  in  want 
of  money  (not  me),  and  is  accordingly  desirous  to  get  as  much 
as  she  can  for  the  collection."     "  I  shall  be  glad  to  do  anything 
with  Carolan  for  our  last  Number  of  Irish  Melodies  that  you 
please — but  it  is  a  disagreeable  looking  thing,  and  nothing  but 
its  curiosity  and  authenticity  could  gain  a  place  for  it  in  any 
civilised  publication.     It  may,  however,  be  worth  your  buying. 
It  was  but  yesterday  that  I  could  hold  up  my  head  with  any 
thing  like  a  feeling  of  health — but  I  am  now  a  good  deal  better. 
The  life  I  lead  here  is  too  monotonous  and  studious  for  me,   by 
far."     "  I  am  now  quite  well  again,  and  am  going  for  a  day  or 
two  to  Bath."     "They  talk  of  Stevenson's  coming  to  the  Bath 
Anacreontic  on  Wednesday,  where  I   asked  him  once  before. 
I  hope  it  is  true."     "  I  have  had  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Arkwright, 
who  will  not  say  what  price  she  puts  on  the  Songs."     "  Tell 
him  [Bishop]  too  when  you  see  him,  that  I  never  before   had 
any  idea  of  the  beauty,  the  great  beauty  of  his  Music  to  my 
Songs  out  of  the  Angels,  till  I  heard  them  sung  while  at  Bath 
by  his  friend  Miss  Wiusor,  who  is  one  of  the  most  touching 


129 

and  intellectual  singers  I  ever  heard.  Don't  forget  this.  I 
gave  Sir  John's  health  at  the  dinner,  and  they  have  in  the  papers 
as  usual  misrepresented  what  I  said — making  me  say  that  it  was 
'his  music  that  produced  the  popularity  of  the  Irish  Melodies!!' 
There  never  was  anything  like  the  warmth  with  which  I  was 
toasted  and  applauded." 

Five  Letters,  three  4to.,  two  8vo.,  1st  May,  8th  June,  Gth,  28th, 
and  30th  July,  182G 
"  I  shall  hope  that  by  this  time  Bishop  is  crowned  with 
laurels,  and  ready  to  relax  himself  from  his  grander  toils  with 
our  bagatelles."  "  Our  two  Calnc  members  dine  with  me  on 
Saturday,  and  I  must  have  some  fish  ;  don't  send  more  than 
will  do  for  a  dinner  of  six."  "I  only  write  one  line  to  say  that 
I  have  just  returned  from  a  ramble  of  a  week.  I  passed  some 
days  at  Lord  Arundel's,  and  two  or  three  more  with  my  friend 
Doctor  Bain  in  Dorsetshire." 

Four   letters,  two   4 to.    and   two    8vo.,    1st,    14th,    21st,  28th, 
and  30th  August,  1826 
Song  of  two  verses  introduced  in   first  Evening  in   Greece, 
"  As  bxj  the  shore  at  break  of  day." 

"  I  have  just  made  a  very  hearty  supper  of  your  good  oysters, 
and  drank  your  health,  (by  way  of  a  treat)  in  some  bottled 
porter."  "I  wish  you  to  buy  me  'Southwood's  Divine 
Government.'  "  "I  send  you  what  I  think  a  little  gem  in  its 
way  for  the  Greek  work.  The  air  is  from  a  collection  of  original 
Greek  dances,  which  a  gentleman  (a  stranger  to  me),  sent  me 
this  last  week,  saying  that  as  I  was  the  Lyric  Monarch  I  had 
a  right  to  all  such  waifs  and  strays,  and  that  they  must  be 
worthless  indeed,  if  I  could  not  ennoble  them  in  my  National 
Melodies.  By  the  bye,  I  don't  know  whether  I  told  you  that 
I  have  had  a  pressing  application  from  the  person  who  pur- 
chased all  Garrick's  papers  the  other  day,  to  arrange  them  for 
publication,  and  to  name  my  own  terms.     I  have  declined." 

K 


"  Benett  has  lent  us  his  house  [in  Albemarle  Street.']  I 
should  not  mind  staving  into  the  next  week,  (for  purposes  of 
business)  but  that  I  have  been  pledged  for  months  to  attend 
the  Gloucester  Music  Meeting  with  Bowles,  who  is  the  Steward 
and  Manager  of  it,  and  who  has  ordered  some  of  my  things  to 
be  performed  expressly  for  me."  "  I  will  take  up  the  MSS. 
and  Reviews  with  me  on  Monday — the  Monthly  is  not  only 
very  kind  but  very  well  done." 

Seven   Letters,    five   4to.  (one   franked    "  Lansdowne,"    another 

"Auckland,")   two  8vo.,    2nd,   4th,    14th,  20th,   25th, 

28th,  and  29th  September,  182G 

"  What  I  had  to  write  about  (and  forgot  in  my  last)  was  to 

beg  that  you  would  call  on  Monday  in  Albemarle  Street,  and  tell 

the  dirty  old  woman  there,-  Sec."     "  I  am  employed  on  the  Greek 

work,  though  (from  something  that  has  given  me  a  good  deal 

of  uneasiness  and  anxiety)  I  doubt  whether  I   shall  succeed  in 

having  it  ready  before  the  beginning  of  next  week."     Gloucester, 

"I   am    here  in   the  midst  of  fine  music  and  fine  people,  and 

have  only  time  to  inclose  you  £5 — with   a  thousand  thanks — 

Lord  Lansdowne   brought  me  and  we  are  lodged   together." 

"  I  wish  he  [Bishop]  would  imagine  airs  for  both  sets  of  words, 

on  the  notion  which  they  convey,  and  I  would  write  new  verses 

to  them."     "  I  was  very  much  pleased  at   Gloucester,  besides 

being  a  good  deal  flattered.     At  the   Steward's  Dinner,  where 

we  had  shoals  of  Tories   (Duke  of  Beaufort,  Lord  Calthorpe. 

&c.  &c.)  my  health  was  the  only  one  given   with  three  times 

three."     "  I  wish  if  you  can  find  out  Taylor,  you  would  tell  him 

that  Lord   Lansdowne  will  subscribe  to  his  book  as  well  as 

myself.     Try  and  find  him."     "  I  have  been  kept  in  a  state  of 

idleness  ever  since  I  left  town,  but  am  now  about  to  Uirn  in  for 

business  doggedly,  and  the  Greek  work  shall  be  my  first  object." 

"  You  will  not  forget  the  '  Divine  Government'  in  your  next.     I 

am  asking  some  of  the  neighbours  for  next  Saturday  to  dinner, 

and  shall  have  to  trouble  you  with  a  commission  for  fish  on  the 


i  31 

occasion."  "  As  I  thought  it  possible  you  might  not  consider 
my  last  letter  a  sufficient  warrant  for  the  dispatch  of  the  fish, 
I  send  this  to  say  that  I  shall  be  much  obligedhy  your  sending 
me  a  dish  for  seven  or  eight  persons  by  to-morrow's  coach,  (let 
your  man  put  it  down  to  my  account) .  Turbot  you  know  we 
cannot  well  manage,  but  any  thing  else,  good  and  cheap,  if 
possible."  With  reference  to  post-paying  this  letter,  Mr.  Moore 
adds,  "  as  it  would  be  barbarous  to  make  you  pay  for  (his  fish- 
letter,  I  shall  act  M.  P.  on  the  occasion."  "I  take  the  advan- 
tage of  a  parcel  to  the  Longmans  to  send  you  the  MSS.  with 
which  that  cursed  Irishman  bothered  me,  and  which  are  all  (as 
I  have  nearly  told  him)  confounded  trash." 

Seven  Letters,  two  4to.,  five  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  9th  and 
19th  October,  2ud,  10th,  15th,  21th,  and  27th  November, 
1820 
"  I  shall  be  obliged  to  be  in  town  for  a  few  days  about  the 
end  of  next  week.  Murray  (between  ourselves)  is,  I  fear  playing 
me  false  on  the  subject  of  Lord  Byron's  life,  and  I  have  written 
to  Rogers  to  meet  me  in  town  as  soon  as  he  can,  to  bring  the 
shuffling  fellow,  if  possible,  to  some  definitive  and  written 
engagement."  "  I  am  going  to  pop  in  a  note  to  Miss  Drew, 
which  I  hope  will  escape  postage."  [The  letter  is  charged 
double.']  "  In  consequence  of  your  letter  and  one  which  I  have 
just  received  from  Mr.  Rogers,  I  mean  to  start  for  town  to- 
morrow morning.  Mr.  Rogers  wishes  me  to  sleep  at  his  house, 
but  as  I  had  much  rather  be  independent,  pray  get  me  a  bed 
either  at  Mrs.  Soane's  or  at  that  Hotel  near  you,  where  Mrs. 
Rranigan  was  for  some  time,  I  forget  the  name  of  it."  Sends 
three  Glees.  "  I  found  all  at  home  well,  but  was  not  suffered 
to  return  immediately  to  quiet,  being  obliged  to  join  the  party 
at  Bowood,  where  I  staid  both  Monday  and  Tuesday.  There 
is,  however,  to  be  a  pause  of  company  there  for  a  month  to 
come."     "  I  have  corrected  the  MS.  of  the  Poetical  part,  but 

k  2 


132 

nm  not  sorry  you  have  had  it  printed,  as  I  can  always  judge 
better  of  what  wants  alteration  in  the  letterpress." 

"  Many  thanks  for  the  fish 
And  your  birth-day  wish  /" 

"  That  infernal  Pyrrhic  dance  will  still  give  trouble.  It  is  not 
at  all  what  I  wish."  "  The  Song  I  enclose  I  have  had  for  this 
week  past.  It  is  written  by  a  young  girl  of  high  fashion  and 
of  a  family  celebrated  for  talent.  [Hon.  Mrs.  Norton  ?~\  The 
words  have  great  beauty  in  them  ;  but  the  music  I  have  not  as 
yet  given  a  fair  trial  to.  She  wants  to  publish  a  set  of  them, 
under  this  fictitious  name  (?),  and  she  wishes  (as  every  one 
wishes  now)  to  get  money.  I  have  been  entreated  to  apply  to 
you,  and  I  shall  leave  the  rest  to  yourself.  Only  let  me  have 
an  answer  such  as  suits  the  sex  and  fashion  of  the  fair  appli- 
cant." "  I  have,  after  some  consideration  sketched  out  my 
idea  of  the  Pyrrhic  dance  in  a  way  I  think  Bishop  cannot  mis- 
take. I  wish  I  could  feel  as  sanguine  about  this  work  as  he 
does.  We  have  done  our  best  to  make  it  elegant  and  creditable, 
but  that  it  will  be  popular  with  a  public  that's  going  wild  about 
'  Cherry  Ripe*  is  more  than  I  can  answer  for." 

Seven  Letters,   four  4to.   (one    of  two   sides,  and  one   franked 
'  J.  Macdonald'),  two  8vo.  and  one  12mo.,  3rd,  4th,  9th, 
17th,  22nd,  25th,  and  31st  December,  182G 
"  I  do  not  foresee  that  there  will  be  any  such  corrections  as 
to  require  second  Revises— a  very  rare  thing  in  my  printing 
operations  (1  mean  the  not  having  many  Revises)."         "  The 
Pyrrhic  dance  will  do— he  has  taken  nearly  note  for  note  the 
melody  and  arrangement  I  suggested."    "  The  Longmans  have 
just  proposed  to  me  a  plan  by  which  (if  it  succeeds  as  they  ex- 
pect) I  may  make,  they  say,  from  five  hundred  to  a  .thousand 
pounds  a  year  with  little  trouble.   This  is  worth  consideration." 
"  The  Longmans  have,  in  consequence  of  my  representations 


133 

against  the  probable  success  of  tbeir  plan,  resolved,  I  believe, 
upon  giving  it  up  ;  at  all  events  they  see  the  justice  of  my 
reasons  for   being  unwilling  to  have  anything   to  do  with  it. 
There  is  a  similar  plan  which  in  your  hands  would  be  much 
more  likely  to  succeed,  and,  indeed  (if  it  has  not  already  struck 
any  music  publisher)  would  be,  I  think,  sure  to  succeed,  and 
I  should  have  no  objection  to  give  you  my  name  and  assistance 
in  it.     Say  nothing  of  all  this.     It  is  not  improbable  that  I 
shall  soon  be   obliged   to   go  to  town,  for  Murray  is  come  all 
right  again,  and  promises  soon  to  settle  our  business  definitively. 
You  perceive  that  he  now  announces  the  Life  of  Lord  Byron 
with  my  name.     If  I  go  up,  we  can  talk  of  the  speculation." 
"  I  am  persecuted  for  an  answer  about  the  young  Lady's  Songs. 
Do  say  something  as  to  your  inclinations  or  (/^inclinations  on 
the  subject.     You  can  hardly  I  think  afford  to   give  anything 
worth  her  accepting." 

Six  Letters,  one  4to.,  five  8vo.  (two  of  two  sides,  and  one  franked 
"Carnarvon"),   5th,    9th,    12th,    16th,    1/th   and    28th 
January,  1827 
Bowood.     "  This  house  idles  me  sadly,  though  nothing  to  be 
sure,  is  better  worth  idling  for."    "  The  packet  you  sent  me  by 
the  last  parcel  was  a  collection  of  Spanish  Airs  with  a  flattering 
letter  from  a  Gentleman  of  Cambridge."     "There  is  a  famous 
Article  in  praise  of  my  Life  of  Sheridan  in  the  forthcoming 
Edinburgh   Review."     "  Before  this   time  twelve  months  my 
Byron's  Life  will  have  put  me  I  think  out  of  debt  and  I  shall 
then  I  hope  be  able  to   manage   my  annual  income  with  more 
regularity  and  less  loss."     "  I  think  it  is  not  fair  to  keep  you 
in  suspense  so  long   about  the  plan  I  meant  to  recommend  to 
you,  and  which  was   suggested  by  the  proposal  of  the  Long- 
mans to  me  to  become  the  Editor  of  an  Annual  Volume  of 
Prose  and  Poetry  like    those  that  are  at  present  so  popular. 
Now,  though  (as  I  told  them)  the  numbers  of  this  sort  of  pub- 
lication that  are  in   the  market,  with  the  addition  of  the  many 


134 

more  that  their  success  will  attract,  would  make  a  volume  of 
the  same  kind  (even  with  the  attraction  of  my  name  which 
they  seemed  to  count  upon  very  much),  rather  a  doubtful  spe- 
culation, yet  it  occurs  to  me  that  an  Annual  work  of  a  Musical 
kind,  (a  mixture  of  Music  and  Poetry)  would  have  a  very  great 
chance  (with  good  embellishments,  &c.  and  my  name  as  Editor) 
of  distinguishing  itself  among  the  crowd,  and  becoming  very 
popular  ;  particularly  if  between  this  and  next  year  the  thought 
should  occur  to  no  other  Music  Publisher.  Think  of  this." 
With  reference  to  Mr.  Moore's  Glee  of  "  Hip,  Ilip,  Hurrah," 
then  unpublished,  which  was  sung  at  the  Auacreontic  dinner 
at  Bath,  the  Poet  writes,  "The  Glee  did  wonders  on  Friday,  I 
really  never  heard  of  any  thing  so  successful.  There  was  a 
distinct  peal  of  applause  after  every  verse,  and  we  were  obliged 
to  sing  it  again  in  the  course  of  the  night.  Lord  Lausdowne 
and  I  went  together  (having  slept  at  Pearly  Castle  the  night 
before)  and  1  had  Lord  Liverpool  opposite  to  me  at  dinner, 
who  was  amazingly  civil,  and  asked  me  to  drink  wine  with  him, 
&c.  &c.  He  expressed  such  anxiety,  too,  for  a  copy  of  the 
Glee  for  Lady  Liverpool,  that  I  thought  I  might  (with  all 
sorts  of  injunctions  as  to  not  letting  it  out  of  their  hands) 
allow  the  Prime  Minister  to  have  one  of  the  printed  copies  you 
sent  me,  and  the  other  for  fear  of  accidents,  I  put  into  the  fire — 
so  that  you  must  let  me  have  another  proof  to  correct." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.,  one  8vo.,  one  12mo.,  5th,  9th,  10th,  lGth 
February,  1827 

"  I  wish  when  you  have  an  opportunity  you  would  row  our 
Newsman,  for  he  continually  makes  mistakes  in  the  papers  he 
sends,  giving  us  the  Times,  British  Traveller,  &c.  just  as  it 
suits  his  fancy."  "  That  thundering  rogue  of  a  Newsman  sent 
the  Times  again  yesterday.  Tell  him  it  is  the  Chronicle  and 
only  the  Chronicle  he  is  to  send  us."  "  I  wish  you  to  call, 
some  time  within  the  next  two  or  three  days  at  Benett's,  and 
tell  the  old  woman  there   that  she   may  expect  me  on  Wednes- 


135 

day  evening  next,  and  must  have  everything  as  clean  as  a  new 
pin  (mind  you  impress  this  on  the  dirty  old  witch)  and  the  bed 
well  aired  for  me.  As  Benett  (who  has  just  lost  his  wife)  will 
not  come  up  for  some  time,  she  may  as  well  (tell  her)  give  me 
his  bed-room  which  is  airier  and  which  I  should  like  better ; 
if  any  thing  should  bring  him  up,  I  can  change  into  the  other 
room." 

Seven  Letters,  three  4to.,  three  8vo.,  one  12mo.,  6th,  9th,  12th, 
14th,  1/th,  23rd  and  2/th  March,  182/ 
"  When  you  are  sending  my  hats,  there  need  only  come 
two  of  them,  as  I  always  keep  an  old  one  in  town  smartly 
lined  for  the  evening."  "  What  do  you  think  of  the  division  in 
the  Commons?  It  made  my  heart  sick."  "  Barnes,  I  see  has 
not  taken  the  hint  about  the' puff.  I  must  pluck  up  courage 
enough  to  ask  again.  My  neighbour,  Colonel  Napier,  who  has 
gone  to  town,  has  undertaken  to  make  Jones  do  his  best  in 
some  design,  to  which  I  can  write."  "  You  see  the  Times  gave 
us  a  little  puff  at  last ;  very  good  and  flattering  as  far  as  the 
Poetry  is  concerned,  but  I  wish  that  they  had  not  said  that  the 
Music  was  'chiefly'  by  Bishop — because  in  the  first  place  it  is 
not  true,  and  in  the  next,  because  I  fear,  between  ourselves, 
such  an  announcement  will  do  us  no  good,  Bishop  having  rather 
lost  ground.  I  have  always  told  you  that  this  work  would  not 
do  much,  and  I  fear  you  will  find  me  but  too  true  a  prophet. 
But  we  shall  pull  up  in  the  Annual  !'"  "  The  following  is  the 
Dedication  which  I  send  as  requiring  more  time  to  get  done 
than  the  Preface. 

To  Mrs.  Jeffrey. 
in  remembrance  of  the  pleasant  hours  passed  at  Craig-Crook, 
with  her  and  my  valued  friend,  her  husband,  I  have  great 
pleasure  in  inscribing  the  following  work.  Thomas  Mooke. 
I  have  begged  of  Itees  to  tell  you  whether  this  is  the  way  to 
spell  Craig-Crook."  "  I  had  had  this  Preface  or  rather  a  Pre- 
face not  at  all  like  it  ready  to  send  you  yesterday  under  a  cover 


136 

to  Lord  Lansdowne--  but  just  as  I  was  folding  it  up  I  took  it 
into  my  head  to  alter  it  altogether,  and  I  hope  you  will  like  it 
in  its  present  form."  "You  may  guess  how  I'm  bothered  with 
interruptions.  Here  has  been  a  Mr.  Teeling  this  morning  all 
the  way  from  Ireland  for  the  purpose  of  reading  to  me  part  of 
a  History  of  the  Rebellion  of  '98,  and  I  have  been  obliged  to 
ask  him  to  dinner  for  the  purpose  -  otherwise  you  would  not 
have  had  your  Preface,  nor  the  Printers  to-morrow  their  proof, 
if  he  had  engrossed,  as  he  fully  intended  to  do,  my  morning 
with  his  damned  Rebellion." 

Seven  Letters,  three  4to.,  four  8vo.,  Oth,  8th,  1 7th,  20th,  22nd, 
2  ird  and  27th  April,  1827 
"  I  wanted  to  get  rid  of  'Old  Nick'  in  the  'When  Love,' 
(as  it  would  not  quite  suit  female  lips)  and  I  think  I  have  suc- 
ceeded pretty  well."  "The  Article  in  the  Magazine  is  very 
flattering,  and  (not  much  less  welcome)  the  salmon  was  excel- 
lent." "  What  comical  work  is  going  on  in  politics!  Some 
thing  good  may  come  out  of  it."  "  I  never  again  will  have  a 
Dedication  engraved."  "  I  have  been  all  the  morning  with 
Lord  L — .  Nothing  yet  settled.  This  between  ourselves." 
"  1000  thanks  for  the  mackerel  and  for  your  good  joke  with 
them."  "  If  the  thing  is  done,  it  is  of  no  consequence,  but  it 
is  worth  nine  pence  to  have  a  thing  right,  and  I  only  wish  we 
could  always  have  things  right  at  so  cheap  a  rate.  I  have  been 
with  my  neighbour  all  the  morning  — nothing  settled  yet,  but 
within  an  ace  of  it."  "  I  hope  you  were  amused  with  the 
account  of  my  annuity  from  the  Times,  ^2000  a  year.  It 
shows  what  some  people  think  me  worth,  God  help  them  !" 
"  The  following  is  the  verse  for  '  The  Garland  I  send  thee," 
and  it  is  to  come  third  instead  of  second. 

'  The  rest  were  all  cull'd  from  the  banks  of  that  glade 
Where  watching  the  sunset,  so  often  we  stray5 d  ; 
And  mourned,  as  the  time  flew,  that  Love  hath  no  power 
To    (t/iroiv,   struck   out)    bind    in    his    (siveef,  struck  out) 
chain  (over,  struck  out)  even  one  happy  hour.' 


137 

"  To  give  you  some  idea  of  the  trials  I  make  of  these 
things  without  hitting  what  I  wish,  I'll  write  one  or  two  of 
my  experiments  at  this  verse  for  you." 

'  The  rest  were  all  cull'd  on  the  hanks  of  that  stream 
(Where  so  oft  we  ivandered — struck  out) 
We  gazed  on  so  often  in  hope's  happy  dream, 
And  thought  that  its  current  would  cease  to  flow  hy 
Ere  love  should  he  altered,  or  that  dream  would  die. 

The  rest  were  all  cull'd  in  that  shady  alcove 
Whose  spring  leaves  first  heard,'  &c,  &c. 
I  havn't  time  for  the  rest. 
T.  M." 

Eight  Letters,  one  4to.,  five  8vo.  (three  of  two  sides)  two,  12mo., 
4th  (two),  llth,   14th,  15th,  1  7th,  26th,  and  28th  May, 

1827. 

Sends  a  verse  of  twelve  lines  : 

"  In  yon  leafy  bower, 

Through  which  the  Moon  peeps, 
At  this  witching  hour 
A  fairy  boy  sleeps." 
"  This  is  all  pretty  well,  but  the  idea  altogether  was  not  so 
good  as  the  other.     You  see  there  is  now  no  doubt  that  Lord 
Lansdowue  is  coming  iu.    God  send  he  may  be  able  to  do  some- 
thing for  me  !    I  am  almost  tired  of  working."     "  You  have  not 
said  what  you  did  with  the  verses  I  sent  you  from  the  Epicurean. 
I  now  transcribe  you  the  only  thing  like  a  regular  Song  that  it 
contains, 

"  Oh,  Abyssinian  tree,"  &c. 

"  I  am  going  to  inflict  upon  you  a  tailoring  commission  for 
me.  My  former  poor  snip  is  a  bankrupt  (as  I  have  learned  by 
a  demand  upon  me  from  his  assignees  for  payment),  and  I  must 
accordingly  proceed  to  break  another.  My  only  evening  coat 
not  being  in  a  state  to  stand  a  dinner  by  day-light,  I  must  have 


138 

one  ready  for  me  when  I  come  up,  and  what  I  want  you  to  do 
is,  to  send  the  inclosed  to  Nngee  in  Pall  Mall,  and  to  take  the 
trouhle  of  calling  there  to  know  from  him  whether  he  can, 
without  taking  my  measure,  make  a  coat  sufficiently  well  upon 
this  pattern  for  me.  lie  is  Washington  Irving's  tailor,  and  the 
only  one  I  know  any  thing  of,  beyond  my  own,"  &c.  "  You 
observe  the  impudent  publication  announced  of  '  Rhymes  of  the 
Times  V  Galignani  had  already  done  the  same,  with  my  name 
to  it,  making  an  omission — gatherums  of  all  that  everybody  has 
written  in  the  Times  for  this  year  past !  — 'I  do  not  understand 
enough  about  Sopranos  or  Tenors  to  know  whether  there  is 
much  importance  in  the  change  of  names,  and  only  wish  he  had 
left  them  simply,  First,  Second,  and  Third  Voice."  "  I  have 
just  had  a  letter  from  a  Parish  Clergyman,  so  far  off  as  Natchez, 
Mississippi,  sending  me  a  book  of  Hymns,  and  telling  me  the 
pride  he  felt  at  seeing  two  of  his  Hymns  inserted,  as  mine,  in 
an  American  Edition  of  my  Sacred  Songs."  "I  hope  you 
didn't  think  the  trash  last  week  in  the  Times  mine.  I  haven't 
had  time  to  send  any  thing  to  it  for  a  long  while."  "  The  Coat 
is  to  be  line,  with  yellow  buttons,  and  to  be  exactly  after  the 
pattern  of  the  other — for,  though  no  great  things  in  the  way  of 
fit,  he  would  only  make  it  worse  by  at  all  departing  from  it." 
"  The  Salmon  and  its  trimmings  (the  .=£20)  arrived  quite  safe — 
a  thousand  thanks." 

Six  Letters,  three  4 to.  (one  of  two  sides)  two  8vo.  one  12mo., 
4th  June,  3rd,  Kith,  20th,  21th,  and  30th  July,  1827. 
Domestic  afflictions  (which  are  explained)  have  retarded  Mr. 
Moore's  annual  visit  to  town.  "  Pray  send  the  inclosed  to  Mrs. 
D.  Just  off  to  Harrow."  "  I  promised  to  meet  Mrs.  Shelley 
to  sing  for  her  at  31,  Strand,  to-morrow  at  3  o'clock."  "  Our 
young  neighbour,  Lord  Kerry,  dines  with  us  to-morrow,  and  if 
I  had  had  earlier  notice  of  it,  I  should  have  thrown  a  line  out 
at  you  for  some  fish — but  as  it  is,  flesh  must  suffice."  Sends 
three  verses  of  a  Song  'The  Painter  to  his  Mistress.' 


139 

u  How  shall  I  paint  thee,  mistress  mine  ! 
How  catch  the  lights  that  fly 
So  changing  o'er  that  cheek  of  thine, 
Or  fix  that  spiritual  eye  ?"   &c. 

"  I  also  send  T.  Cooke's  Song,  which  will  be  one  of  your  many 
do-nothings" 

Four  Letters,  one  4  to.,  three  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),   2nd,  10th, 
22nd,  and  30th  August,  1827. 
"  I  have  been  employing  myself  in  looking  over  all  my  un- 
published Manuscripts,  with  a  view  to  the  Miscellany,  and  I 
know  it  will  give  you  pleasure  to   hear  that  there  is  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  materials  which,  with  a  little  furbishing  up, 
will  go  far  towards  making  out  our  first  volume.     This  is  to  me 
an  unexpected  discovery,  and  I  lose  no  time  in  informing  you 
of  it.     You  shall  soon  have  the  First  Canto  of  an  Eastern  Tale, 
in  order  to  extract  a  subject  for  a  design  from  it.     I  find  too, 
by  my  memorandums,  that   Rees  has  got  in  his  hands  some 
verse  translations  of  mine  from  the  Fathers  which  were  originally 
inserted  in  the  Notes  to  my  Loves,  of  the  Angels,  and  which  I 
shall  get  from  him  for  our  work."     "  I  also  send  you  two  things 
I  have  done  this  week  for  the  Miscellany — the  first  is  a  specimen 
of  a  Series  of  Translations  from  the  modester    parts  of  the 
ancient  amatory  Poets,  which  I  have  long  projected,  and  towards 
which  I  have  a  few  things  by  me  from  Catullus.     The  other  is 
a  lively  thing  from  the  French.     I  think  the   sketch  you  sent 
me  very  clever  indeed — but  I  am  afraid  the  details  of  such  a 
subject  would  be  dangerous  to  venture  upon  for  such  a  work  as 
we  must  make  ours.     It  might  be  done,  perhaps,  in   prose." 
"  This  lamentable  death,  though  it  grieves  me  deeply,  did  not 
take  me  by  surprise,  I  have  looked  upon  him  as  a  gone  man 
these  two  months  past."*     "  You  have  herewith  the  verses  of 
the  Eastern  Story,  from  which  I  think  a  design  might  be  taken." 
"  There  are  likewise  two  more  translations  from  the  Latin,  which 

"   The  lit.  Hon.  George  Canning  died  8tU  August,  1827,  at  Chiswick. 


140 

you  will  put  by  carefully."  "They  wanted  us  to  stay  for  the 
wedding,  (his  [Benetfs]  daughter  is  going  to  be  married  to  Lord 
Charles  Churchill)  but  I  could  not  spare  the  time."  "  I  shall 
keep  the  drawing  to  shew  it  to  my  neighbour  Napier."  "I 
was  going  to  say  that  the  drawing  which  I  send  you  back  is  so 
pretty,  that  on  second  thoughts,  I  will  write  words  to  it.  What 
do  you  think  ?"  "  As  soon  as  I  ascertaiu  Lord  Lansdowue's 
movements  (for  he  is  expected  down,  and  I  believe  I  may  add 
out)  it  is  my  intention  to  take  a  trip  into  Nottinghamshire  to 
see  Newstead  and  visit,  by  the  way,  our  Derbyshire  friends,  I 
shall  then  be  able,  I  trust,  to  get  Mrs.  Arkwright's  permission 
to  publish  some  of  her  Songs  in  our  Miscellany." 

Five  Letters,  one  4to.,  four  8vo.,  4th,  1th,  16th,  19th,  and  23rd 
September,  182/ 
"  I  am  just  setting  off  for  Bowood,  to  pass  a  day  or  two  with 
the  Home  Secretary,  which,  as  far  as  I   can  yet  learn,  he  con- 
tinues still  to  be."     "  You  shall  have  a  long  Prose  piece  from 
me  in  the  course  of  this  week."     "  I  did  not  know  that  my 
Prose  sketch  was  so  long — there  is  about  as  much  more,  which 
you  shall  have  by  the  next  opportunity.     I  passed  three  days 
at  Bowood  last  week,  which  prevented  my  sending  it  before, 
and  I  am  going  there  again  to-morrow."     "  I  trust  I  shall  be 
able  to  get   through  this  next  year,  without  doing  any  thing 
more  for  the  Times.    This,  between  ourselves.    I  want  to  devote 
myself  entirely  to  our  Miscellany  and  my  Life  of  Byron.     We 
are  about  to  cut  down  our  establishment  to  one  woman  servant, 
which  will  make  a  difference,  I  think,  adequate  to      *       *      * 
in  our  expenses — not  so  much  from  the  actual  saving  of  what  a 
servant   costs,   as    from  the  impossibility  of  company  keeping 
which   it  will  bring  with   it."     "  I  want  now  by  next  parcel 
Lady  Morgan's  Life  of  Salvator  Rosa."     "You  shall  have  the 
remainder  of  the  Paris  Sketch,  and  something  else,  in  a  day  or 
two."     "  I  shall  bring  up  with  me  all  that  I  have  for  you,  and 
you  will  get  ready  any  thing  you  want  me  to  dispatch  during 
my  stay." 


141 

Four  Letters,  8vo.,  3rd,  5th,  21th,  and  29th  October,  1827 

Northampton.  Directions  respecting  Papers  left  on  the 
mantle-piece  in  his  bed-room.  "  I  wish  I  could  have  brought 
on  that  ill-treated  bed  with  me.  I  shall  hardly  get  so  com- 
fortable a  one  till  I  return  to  it  again."  "  I  am  obliged  to  send 
my  new  Coat  up.  It  cuts  me  so  under  the  shoulders  that  I 
cannot  wear  it.  Pray  go  to  Nugee's,  and  tell  them  that  they 
must  alter  it  carefully  and  immediately,  and  send  it  down 
directed  to  me  at  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  llancliffe's,  Bunny  Park, 
Nottingham.  Tell  them  that  the  tightness  under  the  arms 
makes  it  wrinkle  both  before  and  behind,  and  that  I  depend  on 
their  altering  it  properly."  Bowood.  "  I  arrived  at  home 
safe  and  sound  the  day  before  yesterday,  and  found  all  pretty 
well.  My  journey  was  very  agreeable,  but  (except  in  one 
instance)  not  very  profitable  in  the  way  of  business.  That  one 
instance,  you  will  be  glad  to  hear,  was  Mrs.  Arkwright,  who 
has  placed  all  her  Songs  entirely  at  my  disposal!  Indeed, 
nothing  could  be  more  prompt  and  unreserved  than  her  com- 
pliance with  my  request — so  that  we  are  well  provided  in  that 
department.  I  should  like  to  have  returned  home  to  quiet 
after  my  pleasure,  but  this  place  is  now  full  of  my  friends,  and 
they  have  laid  hands  on  me  the  instant  of  my  arrival."  "I 
hope  you  saw  the  account  of  my  reception  at  the  Ball  at  Chel- 
tenham." "  I  take  for  granted  you  know  Mrs.  Shelley's  ad- 
dress." 

Four  Letters,  one  4to.,  three  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  6th,  12th, 
19th,  and  26th  November,  182/ 
"  I  am  likely  now  to  be  left  a  little  more  to  myself,  and  shall 
send  you  things  oftener.  Rogers  has  given  me  something  for 
the  Miscellany,  and  my  neighbour  Paul  Methuen  has  written 
(wonderful  to  say)  a  very  pretty  and  poetical  thing  for  it.  I 
have  much  to  say  with  regard  to  our  plan,  which,  I  think,  must 
be  altered — Annuals  have  now  become  so  common."  "  Did 
you  see  there  was  an  East  India  Ship,  called  the  Lalla  Rookh, 


1  12 

arrived  ?  The  owners  of  it,  I  find,  meditated  giving  me  and 
Bessy  a  party  on  board,  had  we  not  left  town  so  soon."  "  I 
send  you  also  the  continuation  of  the  Sketches  in  Pere  La 
Chaise,  of  which  you  already  had  the  commencement.  You 
shall  have  the  conclusion  by  another  opportunity,  though  it 
is  hardly  worth  while  sending  it,  as  I  have  resolved  to  write 
a  verse  Tale  on  the  first  Anecdote,  which  is  a  most 
admirable  subject  for  such  a  purpose,  and  which,  1  think,  I 
shall  make  something  very  touching  of."  "The  conclusion  of 
the  Sketch  of  Pere  La  Chaise  (which,  I  consider,  one  of  the 
best  specimens  of  my  prose  style)  &c."  Betrays  evident  an- 
noyance at  the  popular  success  of  the  Song  of  "  Cherry  ripe." 
"  Here  is  a  duett  that  has  cost  me  some  trouble,  both  from  the 
number  of  verses,  and  their  metre.  But  the  air  is  very  pretty 
as  wrell  as  odd,  and,  I  think,  will  be  liked.  Pray  send  a  copy 
of  the  Evenings  in  Greece  to  Mrs.  Shelley,  No.  51,  George 
Street,  Portman  Square,  with  the  inclosed  note." 

Six  Letters,  8vo.   (two  of  two  sides,  one  a  very  curious  letter), 
5th,  12th,  15th,  20th,  21st,  and  28th  December,  1827 

"  I  mean  to  write  a  set  of  Six  Legends  —this  and  the  duett  I 
sent  last  (the  Leaf  and  the  Fountain),  forming  two  of  them. 
The  name  may  perhaps  have  some  attraction  in  it.  I  grieve  to 
hear  of  your  heavy  Law  bills,  and  hope,  before  long,  that  you 
will  be  at  rest  from  such  expenses."  "  I  have  been  thinking 
a  good  deal  lately  of  coming  to  live  in  town,  but,  as  yet,  only 
thinking  of  it.  It  would  be  as  well,  however,  if  you  had  an  eye 
about  for  a  small  house  for  me.  Somewhere  on  the  verge  of 
the  Regent's  Park  (the  verge  nearest  town),  and  not  solitary. 
I  want  to  hit  upon  some  good  plan  for  a  Periodical  between 
me  and  you,  that  would  turn  in  the  Coppers."  "  I  have  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  a  Post  at  Bromham,*  a  most  desirable 

•  A  picturesque  village  in  sight  of  Sloperton  Cottage,  between  which  and  it 
there  is  a  small  verdant  valley.     In  the  parish  church,  referred  to  so  playfully 


1-43 

thing,  as  you  know.  I  have  always  had  to  send  five  miles  for 
my  letters,  and  have  heen  rarely  ahle  to  answer  the  same  day 
The  only  thing  is,  that  you  will  have  to  pay  \0d  for  my  letters, 
and  a  penny  on  the  newspapers  I  send  you.  Do  you  mind  this 
latter  tax?"  "You  have  here  the  remainder  of  the  former 
Legend,  and  a  Third,  which  I  think  pretty.  There  will  he  two 
more  verses  of  this,  hut  they  are  not  yet  concocted.  I  have  so 
many  letters  to  answer  to-day,  that  I  can  say  no  more."  "  I 
sent  you  a  little  packet  through  Croker  yesterday.  We  have 
a  sad  prospect  hefore  us  for  the  Christmas,"  &c.  "  Bees  tells 
me  they  have  printed  off  a  fifth  Edition  of  the  Epicurean." 
"  All  this  illness  hefore  us  makes  it,  I  fear,  impossible  for  us 
to  have  your  daughter  as  we  expected  during  the  Christmas. 
But  '  what  is  deferred  is  not  lost.1  I  expect,"  &c.  "  You 
have  here  another  Legend,  and  like  the  former,"  &c. 

One  Letter,  12mo.  1827 

"  I  wish  you  would,  when  you  have  time,  call  at  Hookham's 
in  Bond  Street,  and  bid  him  give  you  a  Catalogue  of  his  Circu- 
lating Library  for  me,  telling  him  that  I  think  of  subscribing 
to  it  for  a  few  months." 

Six  Letters,  four  4to.,  two  8vo.,  1st,  4th,  8th,  15th,  23rd,  and 
2/th  January,  1828 
"  I  have  had  Heath  and  Reynolds  down  here  expressly  to 
renew  the  offer  of  the  ^6£00  per  auu.  They  say  the  Keepsake 
is  beating  all  its  competitors."  "  Hope  you  have  been  amused 
by  Hunt's  cockney  stuff  about  me  and  Lord  Byron."  "  I  send 
you  another  Legend,  and  having  written  fourteen  letters  to-day, 
have  not  strength  for  a   word  more.     To-morrow  I  start  for 

by  Moore  in  a  dinner  invitation  to  Lord  Lansdowne  (Sept.  1818),  the  remains 
of  the  Poet,  with  those  of  some  of  his  children,  now  repose. 
"  But  as  for  me,  who've  long  been  taught 
To  eat  and  drink  like  other  people  ; 
And  can  put  up  with  mutton  bought 

Where  Bromham  rears  its  ancient  steeple,"  &c. 


144 

Mrs.  Robert  Arkwright's,  and  expect  to  come  away  from  her 
like  a  bee,  loaded  with  honey,  you  shall  hear  from  me  on  my 
way."  Nottingham. — "  I  have  been  in  a  constant  state  of 
locomotion,  ever  since  I  came  into  this  neighbourhood,  and 
have  met  everywhere  the  greatest  kindness  as  well  as  readiness 
to  communicate  all  the  people  here  knew  about  Lord  Byron.  I 
have  indeed  collected  some  very  valuable  materials,  and  hope 
to  find  still  more.  To-morrow  morning  I  start  for  Mrs.  Robert 
Arkwright's,  and  expect  from  my  visit  all  sorts  of  treasures, 
both  Byronian  and  musical,  as  Hodgson  (Lord  B.'s  great  friend 
and  correspondent)  is  to  meet  me  there.  My  money  is  run 
short,"  &c.     "  Mrs.  Arkwright  gives  me  everything,"  &c. 

Seven   Letters,    three   4to.,    four    8vo.    (one  of  two    sides),  9th 
February,  4th,  10th,  20th,  22nd,  28th,  and  30th  March, 

1828 

"  Send  ten  shillings  for  me  to  Gale  Jones,  No.  5,  Wilsted- 
street,  Somers'  Town."  "  Murray,  the  deuce  is  in  him,  has 
not  yet  sent  me  down  Miss  Fitzclarence's  music  book  which 
I  left  with  the  things  to  follow  me."  "  My  sister  has  lost  her 
girl — her  only  child.  How  she  will  bear  it  I  cannot  imagine. 
I  know  no  more  dreadful  trial."  "  I  have  by  to-day's  post  two 
or  three  applications  from  some  more  of  those  cursed  Annuals, 
and  the  day  before  I  left  town  a  man  thrust  into  my  pocket 
(though  I  took  care  to  throw  it  out  again)  a  draft  for  1 00 
guineas  for  the  same  number  of  lines  in  verse  or  prose.  The 
people  will  soon  be  annually  mad."  "  The  little  parcel  for 
T I  ay  don  the  Painter  you  will  forward  at  your  convenience." 
"  In  my  hurry  yesterday  I  left  out  Bessy's  little  one-pound  rag 
(which  I  would  not  let  Cobbet  get  a  glimpse  of  for  the  world), 
and,  lest  you  should  suppose  it  lost,  send  it  now  through 
Bcnett.  I  hope  you  liked  both  the  Pig  and  the  Poem  we  sent 
yesterday.  What  is  become  of  the  promise  of  Mrs.  Duff's  second 
appearance?     I  fear  the  Managers  have  (as   I   thought  they 


145 

would)  shelfed  her."*  "  What  I  write  now  for  is  to  answer  your 
question  about  Mrs.  Arkwright's  Song,  which  I  omitted  to  do  in 
my  two  last.  The  stupid  Pirates  have  said  that  the  words  are 
by  her,  and  the  music  by  a  Lady  of  distinction,  whereas  the 
music  is  hers  and  the  words  by  Tom  Campbell.  You  have 
perfect  authority  from  me  to  whom  she  has  given  her  Songs  to 
do  anything  (short  of  going  to  law)  to  the  fellow  who  has  pub- 
lished it.  By  the  bye,  a  great  difficulty  in  our  future  use  of 
her  Songs,  will  be  the  words  she  has  in  general  selected,  and 
which  are  other  people's  property."  "  I  send  you  the  pro- 
mised Legend,"  &c.  "  Miss  Feilding  is  employed  about  some 
sketches  for  the  Legends,  and  wishes  they  should  be  litho- 
graphed— what  say  you?"  •'  You  had  better  keep  my  French 
papers  for  the  parcels  you  send,  as  Croker  1  suspect  will  be 
kept  pretty  busy  soon." 

Seven  Letters,  three  4to.,  four  8vo.  (one  of  three  sides),  4th, 
6th,  17th,  18th,  23rd,  24th,  and  30th  April,  1828 
Glee  of  "  The  Watchman."  "  Your  answer  to  Mrs.  A.  was 
just  what  it  ought  to  be.  I  am  only  sorry  that  the  Songs  are 
not  to  be  for  our  joint  advantage  on  the  cheap  terms  at  which 
I  flattered  myself  we  already  had  them.  You  will  now  be 
obliged  to  give  more  for  them  than  their  sale  (beautiful  as  they 
are  with  her  own  singing)  will  ever  repay  you.  I  must  say 
that  she  would  have  done  more  fairly  by  me  (having  expressly 
made  me  a  present  of  the  whole  collection)  as  well  as  more  ad- 
vantageously by  her  own  fame,  if  she  had  left  the  disposal  of 
them  entirely,  as  she  said  she  would,  to  me,"  &c.  "  Like  all 
other  people,  rich  as  well  as  poor,  she  wants  to  make  the  most 

*  Mrs.  Duff — Mrs.  Moore's  eldest  sister — appeared  as  Isabella  at  Drury 
Lane  on  the  3rd  of  March,  1828,  and  soon  after  went  with  her  husband  to 
New  York.  "  Her  fright  was  so  excessive  on  Monday  evening,  that  we 
cannot  pretend  to  form  a  decided  opinion  of  her  abilities  from  so  imperfect  a 
specimen  ;  and  will  therefore  postpone  our  remarks  to  some  more  favourable 
opportunity." — Literary  Gazelle. 

L 
0 


146 

she  can,"  &c.     "  I  have  heen  a  good  deal  amused  hy  a  letter 
you  sent  me,  which  comes  from  a  Bookseller  in  Paternoster-row, 
offering  to  negociate  with  me  for  the  work  which  I  am  said  to 
have  committed  to  the  flames  (vide,  the  Lie-terary  Gazette  of 
last  week),  and  saying  that  he  will  hear  me  harmless  through 
any  legal  consequences  that  may  ensue!"     "  I  have   not  heen 
ahle  to  do  anything  towards  either  selecting  or  composing  the 
remaining  Airs  for  the  Legends.     Miss  Fitzclarence's  Collec- 
tion turns  out  to  be  mere  every-day  rubbish."      "  You  may 
send  through  Croker  as  usual."     "  In  looking  over  my  boots 
and  shoes  to-day  I  miss  an  old  pair  of  French  hoots  with  the 
galoshes  I  used  to  wear  with  them,  which  are  a  great  loss  to 
me,"  &c.     "  Miss  Feilding,  I  find,  will  not  let  Newton  or  any 
one  see  the  designs  till  I  come  to  town."     "  I  shall  not  be  up 
till  the  end  of  May  (unless  the  proceedings   of  Byron's  Monu- 
ment should  call  me  up  sooner)  and  should  like  to  know  whe- 
ther that  time  will  do  for  my  financial  operations,  which  must, 
I  fear,  be  on  somewhat   a  larger  scale  than  usual,  to  carry  me 
through  this   year  at  all   comfortably."     "  Murray  paid   last 
week  the  563000  to  the  Longmans  with  interest  upon  a  week  or 
two  over  the  time  he  agreed  to  have  paid  it  in." 
Six  Letters,  8vo.  (one  of  three  sides),  29th  April  (received  2nd 
May),  3rd,  4th,  9th,  13th,  and  14th  May,  1828 
"  I  inclose  you  a  letter  (for  your  own  private  eye)   which  I 
have   just  got  from    Miss  Feilding,  and   hope  that  there  will 
be  no  difficulty,"  &c.     "  You  shall,  however,  have  some  time 
or  other  a  set  of  all  light  and  humorous  Songs,  and   I   shall,  I 
think,  take  the  Annals  of  the  Fairies  as   my   ground   work ! 
•  Songs  of  the  Fairies'  would  not  be  a  bad  title."     "  I  have 
to-day  had  a  note  from  Newton  who  will  do  everything  for  us 
we  wish."      "  She  [Mrs.  Duff~\  must  have  them  by  the  ninth." 
I  am  anxious  to  know  what  further  happened  between  you  and 
Mrs.  Arkwright"    Refers  to  <;  The  Legend  of  Psyche,"  "  'Tis 
the  Vine,"   and  "  Love,  Youth,  and  Age,"  as   "unfinished." 


147 

"  It  is  possible  I  may  want  help  from  you  to  bring  me  up,  as 
my  pounds  are  'ebbing  fast  away' — but  I'll  try  and  keep 
enough  for  that  purpose."  "  Lady  Donegal  has  left  38,  Berke- 
ley-square, but  you  will  hear  there  where  she  is  gone  to." 
"  You  may  send  my  French  newspapers,  if  there  are  any, 
through  Croker,  as  they  do  to  read  in  going  up."  "  A  <£.} 
note  would  not  come  amiss,  but  this  you  had  better  send  direct 
by  post." 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  8vo.,  17th  and  24th  June,  1828 

"  I  forgot,  the  day  I  was  with  you  at  the  Stationers,  to  order 
some  writing  paper,  which  I  am  in  great  want  of — pray  send 
me  some  (a  ream  will  not  be  too  much),  and  I  should  like  half 
a  pound  of  sealing  wax.  The  paper  to  be  like  this."  "  Think- 
ing that  you  may  want  '  The  Rose  of  the  Desert'  I  send  it  up  by 
parcel,  and  shall  inclose  the  Legends  as  I  finish  them,  through 
the  Right  Honourable  (! !)  Croker.  You  will  have  the  goodness 
to  frank  the  letter  to  Genoa  for  me,  and  put  the  other  in  the  2d 
or  send  it,  if  you  can,  as  there  is  an  original  letter  of  Byron's 
inclosed." 

Six  Letters,  four  4to.,  two  8vo.,  27th  June,  4th,  7th,  15th,  20th 
and  25th  July,  1828 
With  reference  to  the  Morning  Chronicle  Newspaper. — "  It 
has  become  much  better  now  that  we  are  leaving  it."  "  I  wish, 
if  you  could  think  of  it,  you  would  bring  me  two  little  Fire- 
boxes (price  6c?  each),  from  Jones's,  201,  Strand."  "I  send 
you  all  the  words  of  all  the  twelve  [Legendary  Ballads],  and 
flatter  myself  that  they  are  something  better  than  '  Airs  of  Haut 
Ton.'  I  never  saw  such  a  publication  as  that.  Bessy  and  I 
laughed  together  over  it  for  an  hour  last  night,  she  exclaiming 
all  the  time,  'poor  Tom  Bailey  !' '  "In  the  total  dearth  of  airs 
to  which  I  am  now  reduced,  I  think  of  putting  in  execution  a 
plan  that  has  often  occurred  to  me  of  borrowing  subjects  from 
instrumental  composers,  and  manufacturing  them  in  mv  own 
way  into  songs.     For  this  purpose,  though  I  should  have,"  &c. 

L  2 


1  18 

"I  inclose  you  a  scrap  of  a  Letter  I  have  had  from  Mrs.  Ark- 
wright's  friend  and  neighbour,  Hodgson.  The  passage  that 
precedes  the  scrap  is  as  follows,  after  mentioning  your  offer  of 
25  guineas,  he  says,  '  ofoourse  it  was  not  worth  her  while  to 
accept  such  a  pittance  even  if  it  had  been  proper  to  do  so. 
Finding  that  another  publisher  had  offered  25  guineas  for  one 
song  (supposed  to  be  Mrs.  A.'s  but  not  hers,  nor  equal  to  any 
of  her  best  effusions,  I  mean  '  the  Captive.')'  &c.  &c.  You  will 
be  the  best  judge  what  you  ought  to  do."  "I  want  you  for 
Napier  to  direct  the  inclosed  blank  letter  to  the  Editor  of  the 
Globe  Newspaper,  and  have  it  put  in  the  box  at  the  office  as 
soon  as  possible."  "  Your  answer  was  quite  right,  and  I  only 
trust  she  will  not  be  exorbitant."  "  My  money  is  nearly  defunct 
(of  its  usual  complaint,  a  galloping  consumption),  and  as  I 
must  have  about  sixty  pounds  to  carry  me  over  the  next  two 
months,  if  it  would  not  be  convenient  to  you  to  lend  me  that 
sum  for  the  time,  &c."  "  I  have  sent  in  my  formal  resignation 
to  the  Times.  They  are  getting  so  wrong  on  the  Irish  Ques- 
tion that  I  could  not  consistently  continue  even  my  slight  con- 
nexion with  them  any  longer." 

Six  Letters,  four  4to.,  two  8vo.,  1st,  2nd,  13th,  18th,  28th,  and 
31st  August,  1828 
"  I  have  been  writing  such  shoals  of  letters  that  I  have  but  a 
minute  to  dispatch  a  word  to  you,  to  say  that  the  3630  arrived 
safe,  both  portions,  and  that  we  are  full  of  thanks  to  you," 
&c.  "  I  want  you  (if  you  can  possibly  spare  time  before  you 
come  down)  to  make  enquiry  for  us  relative  to  the  ground  in 
the  field  opposite  to  us,  which  I  told  you  we  had  our  eye  on  as  a 
good  site  for  a  cottage,  I  had  nearly  given  up  all  thoughts  of  it, 
but  something  (between  ourselves)  that  Lord  Lansdowne  said 
yesterday  evening,  when  I  mentioned  the  plan  to  hi-m  has  re- 
kindled my  zeal  on  the  subject."  "I  don't  know  whether  I 
before  told  you  that,  in  refusing  the  proposal  of  the  Longmans' 
with  reppect  to  the   History  of  Ireland,  I   mentioned   to  them 


149 

that  as  the  price  which  was  mentioned  (36500),  I  could  get  as 
much  from  any  of  the  scurvy  annuals  for  a  short  Tale,  curiously 
enough  a  week  or  two  afterwards  I  received  actually  an  offer  of 
^500  for  100  pages  prose  or  verse,  £250  to  be  paid  down  im- 
mediately, which,  though  a  most  tempting  proposal  and  most 
creditable  to  the  spirit  of  the  proposers,  I  shall  be  able  to 
decline."  Miss  Feilding's  designs, — "  Mrs.  Arkwright's  trans- 
action with  you  has  certainly  more  of  the  Spinning  Jenny  in  it 
than  I  expected  from  her  ;  but  the  object  for  which  she  wants 
the  money  is,  I  know,  a  good  and  kind  one."  "  Lady  Lans- 
downe  expressed  great  regret  at  your  not  coming  that  day. 
The  Feildings  were  there,  and  the  fair  artist  was  very  much  dis- 
appointed." "  To-morrow  I  am  off  to  the  Salisbury  Music 
Meeting,  which  I  fear  will  be  but  a  dull  concern."  "  I  have 
been  idling  this  week  past  at  the  Salisbury  Music  Meeting  and 
at  Lord  Carnarvon's,  where  I  went  with  Lord  Lansdowne  on 
his  way  to  the  Continent." 

One  Letter,  4 to.  September  2nd,  1828 

"  Here  is  the  third  verse,  with  the  air,  as  well  as  I  can 
recollect  it,  if  you  are  not  prepossessed  in  favour  of  the  title  I 
first  put,  I  should  rather  have  it  called  '  Beauty  and  Song,'  as 
I  see  Bayley  has  something  about  the  Nightingale  and  Rose  in 
his  Butterfly,  and  I  should  like  as  little  as  possible  to  be  mixed 
up  with  his  Butterflies.  I  don't  know  whether  I  mentioned  to 
you  that  Lady  "William  Lennox  told  me  she  sings  *  the  Bashful 
Lover'  and  the  Romaika  every  where  in  Society,  and  Lord 
William  (who  is  become  thoroughly  professional)  added, '  I  think 
we  shall  make  the  best  hit  of  the  Bashful  Lover  next  year  that 
has  ever  been  made  for  a  long  time.'  Theodore  Hook,  she  says, 
makes  her  sing  '  the  Bashful  Lover'  over  and  over  for  ever  for 
him.  You  know  (such  is  the  difference  of  tastes)  that  I  was 
always  a  little  ashamed  of  this  Song,  and  indeed,  had  I  not 
seen  that  you  were  a  little  pleased  with  it,  I  should  have  left  it 
out  of  the  Collection.      I  am  now  glad  I  did  it  not.     We  have 


150 

ordered  some  books,  which  Bessy  wished  you  to  give  Murray 
for  his  boy,  and  if  the  Longmans  have  not  sent  them,  pray  dis- 
patch a  Messenger  for  them,  and  let  Bessy  have  them  down 
immediately." 

Four  Letters,  one  4to.   (three  sides),  three  8vo.,  3rd,  1 1th,  l'Jth, 

and  2.3rd  September,  1828 

"We   are  off  I  trust    in    the   morning  for   Southampton." 

"  Our  lodgings  at   Southampton  are  at  a  Music  Shop  !     Mr. 

William  Smart's,  .08,  High    Street."     Sends   two  verses,  with 

Musical  notation  of 

"Love  o'er  all  unseen  presiding." 

"  I  returned  from  Southampton  last  night."  "  I  have  found 
my  table  covered  with  all  sorts  of  claims  on  my  time  and  pen." 
"I  have  been  occupied  almost  ever  since  I  came  home  iu 
answering  the  heaps  of  infernal  letters  I  found  on  my  return." 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  of  two  sides),  one  8vo.  (of  three 
sides),  1st,  5th,  and  18th  October,  1828 
"I  am  deep  in  arrears  to  you  every  way.  I  ought  long 
since  to  have  returned  you  your  x€G0,"  &c.  "  If  these  appear- 
ances of  War  become  serious  I  shall  have  occasion  to  come  up 
to  town  to  arrange  something,  with  Oroker's  assistance,  about 
my  Bermuda  office,  and  then  we  shall  have  a  talk  upon  our 
Miscellany,  &c.  &c."  "  You  will  I  fear  think  me  exthict  aud 
so  I  have  been  almost,  at  times,  from  anxiety  and  remorse  of 
idleness."  "  All  these  things  coming  upon  me  in  my  solitude 
have  disabled  me  from  working,  and  I  am  behind  hand  in  every 
thing,  except  spending  money,  which  goes  at  Southampton  like 
wild-fire."  "I  have  this  year  an  income  before  me  (not  count- 
ing you,  which  will  be  all  the  other  way)  of  sixteen  hundred 
pounds,  so  please  God  there  is  no  fear."  "  I  suppose  you 
heard  from  Clark  the  trick  the  Keepsake  gentlemen  have 
played  upon  me.  Having  offered  me  six  hundred  pounds  for 
my  name,  on  being  refused  they  took  it  for  nothing.     I  ought 


151 

not  to  have  been  so  lenient  with  them  as  I  have  been.      The 
Longmans'  have,  I  hope,  sent  you  my  Squibs." 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.,  one  8vo.  (four  sides),  3rd,  9th,  and 
14th  November,  182S 
Miss  Feilding's  designs — expected  soon  back,  "she  is  now  at 
her  uncle,  Lord  Uchester's."  Various  commissions.  "The 
note  is  for  Moore,  the  sculptor — I  forgot  his  direction."  "  I 
do  not  see  why  Bishop  should  claim  the  arrangement  of  Sphor's 
air,  as  he  had  the  good  taste  to  leave  it  exactly  as  it  was,  (with 
the  exception  of  a  few  notes  of  symphony),  saying  it  could  not 
be  better,  which  was  very  true."  "  There  must  be  a  complete 
change  in  all  our  proceedings,  though  ivhat,  I  have  not  made 
up  my  mind  to.  Something  new  must  be  hit  upon,  or  we 
shall  grow  '  flat,  stale,  and  unprofitable' — three  devilish  bad 
things."  "  I  forgot  to  thank  you  for  the  nice  fish,  which  is  even 
a  better  thing  salted  than  fresh."  "  I  have  been  asked  to  go  to 
Lord  Jersey's  on  my  way  up,  but  I  shall  reserve  my  visit,  I 
think,  till  my  return." 

Five  Letters,   one  4to.  four  Svo.   (two  of  two  sides),  Oth,  13th, 
19th,  24th,  and  30th  December,  1828 

"  You  can  have  no  difficulty,  I  should  think,  in  telling  which 
is  the  old  hat  of  the  two.  It  is  new  lined  —must  be  of  a  much 
browner  colour  than  the  other,  and  is  a  particularly  heavy  and 
hard  hat,  but  will  be  very  useful  here  to  save  my  best  one." 
"  The  grand  fish  arrived  safe,  and  the  Grand  Turk  would  not 
be  received  so  welcomely.  A.  merry  Christmas  to  you  aud 
yours."  "I  send  you  a  beautiful  air  (and  I  think  not  ill  sup- 
plied with  words),  which  will  do  for  our  Greek  work."  "  The 
idea  I  have  now  adopted  for  the  beginning  of  our  Second 
Evening  is  a  Masquerade — which  will  afford  (when  I  can  execute 
it  properly),  a  most  beautiful  ground  work  for  all  sorts  of 
lyrical  subjects— but  the  truth  is,  I  am  now  so  hard  driven  to 
get  out  my  Byron  within  the  season,'"  &c.     "  I  have  the  more 


152 

reluctance  in  asking  you  for  so  long  a  pause  from  work,  as  I 
shall  be  obliged  to  make  use  of  your  name  for  three  months  on, 
to  bring  me  within  reach  of  the  supplies  I  shall  then  be  entitled 
to  from  Murray,  and  to  have  you  so  much  in  advance  to  me, 
without  any  set  off  in  work,  is  a  very  uncomfortable  feeling  to 
me,  whatever  your  good  nature  may  make  it  to  you." 

Five  Letters,  one  -1  to.,  four  8vo.  One  dated  "Wednesday," 
the  others  undated  (1828) 
"  One  will  do  very  well"  (to  meet  Bishop),  "  I  meant  to  have 
come  to  you  to-day,  but  the  Duke  of  Sussex,  whom  I  called 
upon,  took  it  into  his  royal  head  to  read  me  a  long  pamphlet, 
which  kept  me  all  day.  I  shall  be  with  you,  however,  before 
one  to-morrow."  "  Many  thanks  for  the  fine  fish  !  I  think 
you  need  not  fear  Wm.  Spencer — but,  if  you  like,  I  could 
write  to  him  —  though  I  feel  sure  you  may  print  the  verses." 
"  I  have  had  rather  bad  accounts  of  my  poor  mother's  health  — 
but  she  is, by  to-day's  news  better,"  "pray  get  me  two  or  three 
pair  of  gloves  at  Gibbon's,  Coventry  Street,  opposite  Haymarket, 
such  as  my  last." 

Four  Letters,  two   4to.   (one  two  sides,   the   other  three  sides), 

one  8vo.,  one  12mo.  ;   2nd,  11th,  and  two  19th  January, 

1829 

"  Many  thanks,  my  dear  Sir,  for  your  very  friendly  assent  to 

my  wishes.     Fe  assured  that   I   shall  make  up  for  lost  time 

when  I  again  buckle  to,  &c."     "  I  think  the  present  order  of 

the  Legends  will  do  very  well,  only  putting  perhaps  'the Voice' 

instead  of  the  '  Stranger,'   the  former  being  a  more  elegant  and 

taking  air  (at  least  in   my  opinion)  than  the  other."     Annual 

dance  at  Bowood.     Six  verses  of  eight  lines  each  entitled,  "the 

true  Gem." 

"  Said  Love  to  Friendship  '  Let  us  away 

To  yonder  island  shore — 
'Tis  fairy  ground — it's  soil,  they  say 
With  gems  is  sparkling  o'er,"  &c. 
Domestic  afflictions. 


153 

Six  Letters,  three  4to.,  three  Svo.,  (two  of  two  skies — a  portion 
of  the  other  torn  off),  4th,  13th,  15th— 24th,  and  26th 
February,  1829 

Wishes  for  a  set  of  proofs  of  the  music  of  the  Legendary 
Ballads,  "  that  I  might  be  able  to  sing  it  to  my  neighbours  at 
Laycock  Abbey."  Dedication  to  the  Miss  FEildings.  "  You 
are  a  lucky  man  in  the  health  of  your  children."  "  You  must 
find  out  where  Mr.  Joy  lives — he  is  a  bookseller  or  publisher, 
but  too  fashionable  to  put  his  place  of  abode."  "  It  is  a  hard 
trial,"  (a  most  painful  letter).  "  We  felt  the  kindness  of  your 
letter  most  thoroughly,  and  it  is  not  impossible  but  we  may 
accept  your  very  friendly  offer,  for  which  both  you  and  Mrs. 
Power  have  our  heartiest  thanks.  Indeed  if  anything  could 
console  one  for  such  a  calamity,  the  sympathy  and  actual  friend- 
ship we  experience  on  all  sides  ought  to  do  so."  "  Do  not 
mention  to  people  my  coming,  as  there  are  but  few  I  wish  to 
see."  "  In  fact  it  would  be  folly  to  deceive  ourselves  with  hope. 
We  must  only  go  through  with  it  and  bear  it  as  we  can." 

Six  Letters,  three  4to.,  three  8vo.,  4th  (two),  8th,  12th,  25th, 
and  29th  March,  1829 
"Many  thanks  for  the  fish,"  &c.  Introduction  to  the 
Legendary  Ballads.  Death  of  Anastasia  Mary,*  only  daughter 
of  Thomas  Moore,  Esq.  "  I  write  but  to  thank  you  for  your 
kind  feeling  note,  and  to  beg,"  &c.  "  We  shall  drink  your 
health  to-day  as  well  as  eat  your  good  fish."  "  The  name  is  to 
be  spelt  as  I  have  done  it  here  with  tbe  E  before  the  I.  Lady 
Elizabeth  would  never  have  forgiven  such  a  disparagement  of 
the  ancient  name  as  the  I  being  foremost."  "  I  must  again 
put  you  to  your  old  trade  of  house  hunting  for  me.  Dr.  Starkey 
and  my  landlord  have  come  to  an  arrangement  which  still 
admits  of  my  cottage  being  rebuilt  and  made  comfortable  for  us, 
and  with  a  much  larger  interest  in  it.     We  shall  therefore  turn 

*  Aged  nearly  sixteen. 


151 

out  for  building  purposes  in  a  short  time,  and  take  some  small 
house  or  retired  lodgings  in  or  near  town  during  the  interval  I 
am  employed  in  publishing  (about  three  or  four  months). 
After  that  we  mean  to  pay  our  long  promised  visit  to  my 
mother,  and  I  shall  devote  a  few  weeks  to  the  poetical  tour  we 
have  sometimes  talked  of,  for  a  tenth  and  last  Number  of  our 
Melodies."  "  The  Lansdownes  have  very  kindly  offered  us 
their  villa  at  Richmond  after  Whitsuntide,  and  it  is  not  unlikely 
wc  may  go  to  it." 

Four  Letters,   three  4to.,  one  8vo.,   Gth,   12th,    lGth,  and    17th 
April,  1829 

"  I  send  you  a  sketch  of  a  melancholy  song  I  have  done 
wit  bin  this  day  or  two,  and  which  when  retouched  and  im- 
proved, will  be  one  of  the  prettiest  things  I  have  for  a  long 
time  produced."  ly  expenses  have  been  lately  enormous, 

and  there  are  still  more  heavy  ones  before  me,  but,  with  a  little 
help,  I  shall  pull  through."  Boioood,  "  I  have  come  here  to 
work  alone  for  a  week  or  two  previous  to  my  coming  to  town," 
&c.  "  I  had  gone  pretty  far  in  a  more  extended  Introduction 
announcing  that  this  would  be  the  last  Collection  I  should  pre- 
sent the  Public  with  (excepting  only  a  tenth  Number  of  Irish 
Melodies,  and  a  second  Evening  in  Greece),  but,  on  second 
thoughts,  I  believe  it  is  as  well  not  to  tie  myself  down  so 
hastily."    "  I  walked  into  Devizes  yesterday  (seven  miles)."  &c. 

Three  Letters,   one  4to.,  two  8vo.,   1st  May,   20th   June,    24th 
July,  1829 

"lam  ashamed  of  having  given  so  much  trouble  about  this 
short  advertisement,"  &c.  Richmond  JIM,  "  I  wish,  too,  if 
you  have  time  to-day  that  you  would  make  arrangements  with 
your  Solicitor  Clark  for  seeing  as  soon  as  he  conveniently  can 
our  old  friend  of  the  three  acres,  on  the  subject  of  the  purchase, 
— the  less  time  we  lose  now  about  it  the  better,  as  the  buildin°- 
ought  to  be  commenced  as  soon  as  possible." 


153 

Two  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  8vo.,  8th  August,   17th  September, 
1829 
[Mr.  Moore's  residence  at  Richmond  and  Mr.  Power  s  absence 
from  London   will  account  for   this  break   in  the  usual  corres- 
pondence.1^   "  I  hope  you  are  by  this  time  returned  safe  home," 
&c.     "  Here  is  an  alteration  in  the  end  of  the  third  verse  of  that 
song  I  gave  you,  together  with  the  fourth  verse."    See  [Second 
Evening  in  Greece,  the  song  commencing  "  Who  comes  so  grace- 
fully?'}    Broo/cs's,   Thursday,  "There  is   again  a  chance  of 
old  Slop." 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.,  one.  8vo.  —  and  29th  November,  9th 
December,  1829 
"  I  thought  to  have  taken  the  inclosed  to  you  myself,  but 
having  been  the  whole  day  sitting  to  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence 
could  not  manage  it."  Directions  about  "  Abernethy  biscuits 
and  maccaroni  at  two  shillings  a  pound  from  Morell's  in  Picca- 
dilly." "  I  got  down  very  agreeably,  and  find  these  apartments 
made  most  wonderfully  comfortable  for  my  reception — such  a 
metamorphosis  (since  I  saw  them  filled  with  washing  tubs  and 
flitches  of  bacon)  could  not  be  conceived." 

Four  Letters,  two  4  to.,  two  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  2nd,  14th> 
19th,  and  27th  January,  1830 
**  You  perceive  we  have  lost  our  dear  friend  Lady  Donegall,* 
one  of  the  truest  and  most  unchanging  during  a  space  of  seven 
and  twenty  years  that  it  has  ever  been  my  lot  to  know.  I  now 
begin  to  feel  great  alarm  about  my  mother  in  this  most  trying 
weather."  Carpet  slippers.  "  From  an  article  in  the  Times 
to-day  I  take  for  granted  my  book  will  soon  be  in  the  hands  of 
everybody.  I  feel  somewhat  in  a  twitter  about  it ;  though 
rather  less  than  on  other  occasions,  from  having  such  a  Hercu- 

*  Barbara,  Marchioness  (dowager)  of  Donegall, died,  No.  17,  Curzon  Street, 
on  the  28th  December,  1829.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Luke 
Godfrey,  uncle  to  Sir  William  Godfrey,  Bart.,  and  was  the  third  wife  of 
Arthur  the  fifth  Earl  and  first  Marquis  of  Donegall,  who  died  Jan.  5,  1799. 


156 

lean  pair  of  shoulders  as  Byron's  to  shift  part  of  the  responsi- 
bility to."  Hood's  Comic  Annual.  "  I  have  every  morning 
shoals  of  congratulations  and  eulogies  on  the  subject  of  my  book, 
which  seems  to  be  doing'wonders."  "  Next  week  I  shall  be  in 
town." 

Three  Letters,  one  4to.,  one  Svo.  (two  sides),  one  12mo.,  13th 
and  1 6th  March,  20th  April,  1830 
"  I  was  in  hopes  I  should  be  able  to  be  up  in  time  for  the 
Shamrock  day,  as  I  should  like  to  see  how  my  brother  Paddies 
look  after  being  emancipated,  but  every  day  here  is  so  precious 
to  me,"  &c.  "  I  am  coming  to  London's  hateful  den  again." 
"  I  have  been  so  pressed  and  put  out  of  my  way  for  these  months 
past  that  I  '  take  no  note  of  time,'  nor  of  any  thing  else,"  &c. 
Mentions  "Weber's  wild  witch  like  style"  of  music. 

Four  Letters,   three  4 to.,  one  8vo.,  2/th  July,   10th,   14th  and 
25th  August,  1830 

"  I  have  been  in  daily  expectation  of  receiving  the  things  I 
left  for  you  to  dispatch  after  me."  "We  have  been  now  for 
some  days  in  our  new  cottage,  and  find  it  most  dry  and  com- 
fortable. There  cannot  be  a  nicer  house  for  its  size."  "  We 
think  of  sailing  the  latter  end  of  next  week.  You  will  see  that 
the  Dublin  papers  have  been  rather  premature  in  announcing 
their  '  distinguished  countryman's  arrival.'  "  96,  Abbey  Street, 
"  We  were  most  lucky  in  our  weather,  and  I  am  now  glad  beyond 
what  I  can  say  that  I  brought  both  boys  with  me— it  has  made 
my  mother  so  happy.  Already  every  body  remarks  how  im- 
proved she  is  in  looks." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.  (one  two  sides),  two  8vo.  (one  two  sides) 

4th,  5th,  1 7th,  and  25th  October,  1830 

"  Yesterday  evening  we  arrived  all  safe  and  well  at  Sloperton, 

our   heads  almost  turned   with  head  mille  fealthods,  and   my 

pockets  turned   inside  out  with  our  expenditure.     You  never 

saw  any  thing  like  the  enthusiasm  of  my  reception  every  where 


157 

in  Ireland.  They  have  now  set  their  hearts  upon  bringing  me 
into  Parliament  for  some  county,  and  had  there  been  a  vacancy 
at  this  moment  I  could  hardly  have  escaped  the  honour.  Ste- 
venson I  did  not  see.  He  was  confined  with  illness  during  the 
first  weeks  of  our  stay,  and  though  I  called  two  or  three  times 
I  could  never  see  him.  lie  then  set  off  for  Lord  Headfort's,  where 
we  were  asked  to  meet  him,  but  in  the  whirl  and  multiplicity 
of  our  engagements  we  were  unable  to  compass  it.  By  all  ac- 
counts the  poor  fellow  is  completely  past  his  work.  I  am  told 
he  says  of  his  legs  (looking  down  mournfully  at  them)  '  Oh,  by 
G — d  they  are  very  good  legs — but  they  won't  walk.'  You 
must  manage  to  lend  me  twenty  or  thirty  pounds  (the  latter  if 
possible)  for  a  few  weeks,  till  I  can  put  matters  in  train  for 
raising  the  supplies.  I  am  (to  use  the  slang  phrase)  completely 
'  cleaned  out,'  but  shall  now  turn  in  for  a  long  spell  of  labour, 
and  have  little  doubt  of  being  soon  quits  with  you  and  all  other 
kind  creditors.  The  building  and  this  journey  coming  together 
have  been  a  fatal  blow  to  my  finances."  "  The  reason  of  my 
not  writing  to  you  more  than  once  from  Dublin  was  very  simple. 
It  was  the  same  as  that  given  by  Joe  Maddocks  to  the  Princess 
of  Wales,  when  she  said  to  him,  c  For  why  you  not  speak,  Mr. 
Maddocks?' — '  Because  Ma'am,'  answered  Joe,  'I  have  nothing 
to  say.'  Not  having  been  able  to  see  Stevenson,  I  had  nothing  par- 
ticular to  communicate  to  you,  and  being  in  such  a  whirl  both  of 
mind  and  body  as  caused  me  to  neglect  but  too  much  one  of  the 
most  important  objects  of  my  visit  to  Dublin,  I  thought  I  knew 
you  well  enough  to  feel  quite  sure  that  you  would  excuse  any 
omission  of  mere  letter  writing,  &c."  "  I  send  you  some  more  of 
the  Summer  Fete,  which  will  still  spread  out  to  two  or  three 
hundred  lines  more.  All  good  for  your  letterpress  book.  I 
inclose  also  Lady  Headfort's  letter,  which  you  will  return  to 
me  some  time  or  other.  You  had  already  seen  the  mention  of 
poor  Stevenson's  paralytic  attack  in  the  newspapers."  "  I  have 
been  passing  three  days  with  the  Duchess  of  Kent  and  our  little 


158 

future  Queen  at  Earl  Stoke  Park,  and  we  had  a  great  deal  of 
music.  The  Duchess  sung  some  of  my  Melodies  with  me  better 
than  I  ever  heard  them  performed.  I  promised  to  send  her 
some  of  the  Songs  of  mine  she  most  liked,  and  I  should  be  glad 
if  you  would  get  them  bound  together  (not  too  expensively)  for 
me  to  present  to  her.  They  are  as  follows.  Meeting  of  Ships — 
Indian  Boat— The  Evening  Gun— Say  what  shall  be  our  Sport, 
(can  you  detach  this  from  the  Nationals?) — Keep  your  Tears 
for  me— The  Watchman — I  love  but  thee  (beginning  '  If  after 
all')— Reason  and  Folly  and  Beauty.  She  has  promised  me 
copies  of  some  very  pretty  German  things  she  sung." 

Seven  Letters,  four  4to.   (one  of  two  sides)  three  8vo.,  1st,  4th, 
5th,  10th,  17th,  19th,  and  29th  November,  1830 
"  I  think  it   the  most   respectful  way  (as  well  as  most  mo- 
dest) to  send  only  the  songs   she  asked  for."     Sir  John  Ste- 
venson.   "I  have  been  sadly  interrupted  of  late — but  it  seems 
my  destiny."      "  I  wish  you  could  get  for  me  and  send  by  the 
first  opportunity  the  Daily   Diary  or   Remembrancer  (I  don't 
know  which  it   is    called   (at  Bailey's   I  think,    No.    0,  Fleet 
Street.)    I  want  the  large  size  at  6s."     I  have  written  a  Comic 
Duett  for  two  Almacks   Dandies  (Male   and  Female)  which  as 
soon  as  I  have  finished  the   verses  that  introduce  it,  you  shall 
have."      "  I  wish  you   would   send  me  by  next  parcel  the  last 
number  of  the  Belle  Assemblee  and  any  French  Magazine  that 
may  be  about  fashions,  as  I  want  to  dress  my  two  Dandy  people 
properly."     "  I  was  in  hone  of  a  letter  from  you  this  morning 
to  say  whether  dear  Tom  was  (as  well  as  his  Majesty)  prevented 
by  the  Ministers  from   coming  out.     What  a  farce  (a  tragical 
one)  the  great  Duke  has   made  of  it."      "  I  send  you  the  cor- 
rected music  and  100  lines  more  of  the  Summer  Fete." — "  You 
will  be  a  little  startled,  I  fear,  to  see  the  instruments  of  War 
I  am  sending  to  you,  but  it  is  for  a  purpose  which  I  have  long 
intended,  though  the  state  of  our  neighbourhood  just  now  has 
put  it    more  immediately  in  my  head.       I  want  you  to  get 


159 

new  locks  to  these  pistols  for  me,  and  whatever  else  may  be 
necessary  to  make  them  sound  and  trust-worthy.  They  were 
given  me  some  years  since  by  a  genuine  Sir  Lucius  O'Trigger 
of  my  acquaintance,  and  my  neighbour  Napier  says  they  are 
excellent  pistols,  but  at  present  dangerous  (not  to  one's  ene- 
mies but  one's  friends)  from  the  state  of  the  locks."  "I  do 
not  fear  the  hundreds  of  poor  devils  that  arc  congregating  on 
all  sides,  and  whose  aim  is  entirely  (as  it  ought  to  be)  against 
the  parsons  and  landlords.  They  are  not  likely  to  molest  me 
— but  the  stray  stragglers  from  these  great  bodies  and  the 
number  of  ruffians  that  will  take  advantage  of  this  state  of 
things  to  rob  and  plunder  are  the  evils  that  are  most  to  be 
dreaded  through  the  long  nights  of  winter,  and  if  we  stay  here 
(which  it  is  just  possible  we  may  not)  I  should  not  like  to  be 
undefended."  "  Since  I  wrote  the  within  one  of  the  locks  has 
broken  off  with  a  touch." 

Four  Letters,  two  4to.,  two  Svo.,  3rd,  10th,  11th,  and  23rd  De- 
cember, 1830 

"  I  have  done  some  more  of  the  Fete,  bringing  in  two  more 
of  our  stray  Songs,  so  that  there  remain  but  three  or  four  more 
(if  so  much)  to  finish  it."  "We  find  the  mould  candles  here  so 
bad  that  we  wish  to  try  some  of  your  London  ones  ;  and  would 
be  glad  to  have  a  box  down  by  waggon.  By  buying  them  for 
me  you  can,  I  suppose,  leave  them  to  be  paid  by  me.  Best 
regards  to  all  your  large  little  circle.  The  candles  are  to  be 
long  fours." 

Two  Letters,  one  Svo.,  one  12mo.,  undated  (1830) 

"  Three  or  four  days  ago  I  wrote  to  Sandon  (19,  Bury  Street) 
to  know  whether  his  second  floor  would  be  vacant  this  next 
week  and  he  has  not  answered  me.  You  could  perhaps  '  stir 
him  up  with  a  long  pole'  on  the  subject  to-morrow,  as  I  am 
rather  in  a  difficulty  about  a  lodging,  and  would  not  go  to  his 
but  from  my  hatred  of  strange  places  and  faces."     "  I  am  over- 


160 

whelmed  with  devilish  letters. — One  of  the  inclosed  is  to  the 
Artists  Proprietors  of  the  National  Gallery,  who  have  applied 
to  me  (on  account  of  that  '  taste  which  flows  almost  exclusively 
from  my  pen')  to  write  the  dedication  to  their  work  to  the 
King.  I  have  just  despatched  off  another  answer  to  an  appli- 
cation from  York  for  me  to  write  the  inscription  on  a 
monument  they  are  erecting  there  to  the  seven  young 
people  who  were  drowned  !  There  is  no  end  to  these  applica- 
tions." 

Five  Letters,  two  4to.,  three  8vo.,  2nd,  13th,  18th,  25th  and 
31st  January,  1831. 
"  A  merry  new  year  to  you  and  yours" — "  To  write  a  gen- 
teel comic  Song  is  no  easy  matter.  I  have  tried  at  different 
subjects  till  I  am  tired,  and  now  have  produced  one  that  has 
too  much  wit  (at  least  what  was  meant  for  wit)  for  a  Song. 
However  as  tune  or  no  tune  I  mean  to  keep  it  in — I  send  it  to 
you."  "I  am  bleeding  at  every  pore,  in  the  money  way. 
Building  and  furniture,  &c.  is  now  running  away  with  more 
than  s£300,  in  addition  to  the  .£200  I  paid  in  the  summer. 
However  once  over  it,  and  with  <s£10  a  year  rent,  I  shall  ma- 
nage perhaps  to  get  into  smooth  water  again."  "  Some  you 
cannot  touch.  But  the  Canadian  Boat  Song  I  certainly  altered, 
and  so  I  did  '  The  last  Rose  of  Summer.'  My  Ilomaika  they 
have  stolen  under  the  title  of  Sappho  and  given  the  name  Ro- 
maike  to  another  Waltz  in  the  same  set.  The  Titles  I  should 
think  are  fair  game  for  you  to  fly  at."  Mentions  his  "  high- 
built  nest"  at  Bowood.  "I  have  been  employed  these  two  days 
in  routing  up  Irish  Melodies,  and  think  we  shall  be  able  to 
make  a  very  good  show  in  the  10th  Number."  "You  shall 
hear  from  me  soon  about  Wade's  MS." 

Four  Letters,    two  4to.  two    8vo.,    8th,    10th,    17th  and  28th 
February,  1831 
"  I  shall  have  great  cutting   and   slashing  on   the  Slips"  (of 


161 

the  Summer  Fete).  "  I  have  just  heard  such  intelligence  from 
Dublin  as  makes  it  necessary  for  me  to  start  immediately.  You 
shall  hear  from  me  on  my  road,  or  from  Dublin.  I  fear  I  shall 
hardly  find  my  poor  mother  alive."  "  I  know  you  will  be  glad 
to  hear  that  my  dearest  mother  has  rallied  in  the  most  extraor- 
dinary way,  and  that  I  am  able  to  leave  her  with  the  hope  that 
she  is  in  a  fair  way  of  recovery.*  It  has  astonished  every  one, 
and  a  great  deal  of  it  is  certainly  owing  to  the  vigour  and  com- 
posure of  her  mind  which  exceeds  any  thing  I  could  have  ex- 
pected even  from  her  in  such  circumstances.  I  have  seen  poor 
Stevenson,  who  is  a  sad  wreck,  but  still  full  of  laugh  and  fun 
(at  least  while  I  was  with  him)  and  as  much  a  Dandy  as  ever 
— quite  a  Lord  Ogleby."  "  Myself  and  my  cold  (which  still 
sticks  to  me)  arrived  here  safe  on  Friday  night,  finding  all 
pretty  well  at  home." 

Four  Letters,  three  4to.   one  8vo.,   6th,    10th,    I  lth  and    18th 
March,  1831 

"What  interesting  doings  you  have  up  in  town  just  now!" 
"  Pray  look  in  the  last  (or  last  but  one  Evening  Post)  for  a 
letter  of  Arthur  O'Connor's  and  put  the  proper  Number  to  the 
address  of  the  inclosed  which  you  must  frank  off  to-morrow 
for  me.  It  is  to  ask  a  question  of  him."  Enquiry  about  a 
watch.  "  As  soon  as  my  Lord  Edward  is  off  my  hands,  I 
mean  before  I  commence  any  thing  else  to  take  a  long  spell  at 
Music." 

Three  Letters,  two  4to.  one   12mo.  (two  sides),   5th,   9th  and 
17th  April,  1831 

"  I  trust  you  will  be  able  to   hasten  the  publication  [of  the 
Summer  Fete~\  as  I  should  like   to  have  two  such  things  as  my 

•  Mrs.  Moore  survived  fifteen  months  after  this.  She  died  at  Dublin  on 
the  10th  May,  1832.  The  Gentleman's  Magazine  records  that  "  Her  intel- 
lect was  of  the  highest  order,  and  it  is  stated  to  have  been  a  fixed  rule  will* 
Mr.  Moore  to  write  twice  a  week  to  her." 

M 


162 

Life  of  Lord  Edward  and  this  gay  poem  coming  out  as  near  as 
possible  together.  I  want  you  to  manage  a  little  matter  for 
me  in  which  we  are  both  interested.  A  gentleman  lent  me  a 
set  of  Bohemian  Airs,  from  which  I  have  selected  about  a 
dozen,  which  are  just  of  the  very  sort  to  catch  the  popular  ear, 
and  yesterday  I  sent  the  book  back  to  him,  forgetting  to  erase 
the  pencil  marks  which  I  had  made  before  the  airs  to  be 
selected.  This,  ever  since  I  have  recollected  it,  worries  me,  as  it 
will  be  a  guide  for  him  and  others  to  the  few  airs  I  have  appro- 
priated out  of  the  400  in  the  book,  and  somebody  else  might 
be  tempted  to  make  use  of  them.  I  have  therefore  written  the 
inclosed  to  him  to  say  that  the  book  was  sent  off  without  my 
knowledge,  and  that  there  is  an  air  or  two  more  I  want  to  tran- 
scribe if  he  will  allow  me  to  have  them  again.  You  must  send 
this  to  his  house  immediately,  and  if  he  should  not  send  the 
book  to  you,  as  I  bid  him,  by  Monday  evening,  you  had  better 
perhaps  write  a  note  on  Tuesday  morning  to  say  that  you  have 
a  parcel  making  up  for  me,  and  understanding  that  he  has  some 
music  to  send  me,  take  the  liberty  of  apprising  him." 

Four   Letters,  three  4to.,  two  8vo.,  9th,   13th,  21st  and  22nd 
May,  1831 
"  I  send  you  a  most  beautiful  Air  (which  the  Duchess  of 
Kent  by  the   bye  gave  me)  and    which  I  have  succeeded,  I 
think,  in  matching  with  words  most  luckily." 

Four  Letters,  one  4to.,  three  8vo.,    1st,  3rd,  6th  and  7th  July, 
1831 
"  In  addition  to  the  other  bother  I  bequeathed  you  in  com- 
ing away,    T    wish,"   &c.       "  I    found     all    here    very   well." 
"Thanks,  my  dear  Sir,  for  the  fine  salmon,  which  I  am  within 
half  an  hour  at  this  moment  of  attacking." 
Five  Letters,  8vo.,  13th,  17th,  19th,  20th  and  30th  July,  1831 
"  Not  to  lose  time   I   send    you  back   the   two  proofs  and 
Horn's   Song,   which  is,  I  think,  very  good  indeed,   and  with 


163 

much  more  feeling  than  any  thing  of  bis  I  have  ever  seen. 
We  are  just  about  to  prepare  for  our  Archery  Fete  to-day  and 
looking  very  anxiously  at  the  sky.  Your  supply  of  fish  for 
the  occasion  is  most  magnificent."  "  I  expect  my  Life  of 
Lord  Edward  will  be  out  next  week."  '*  The  proofs  that  are 
in  the  Box  you  will  throw  by  somewhere  till  I  return  to  town 
to  destroy  them." 

Five  Letters  and  a  Song,  four  4 to.,  two  8vo.,  2nd,  7th,  (two),  21st) 
22nd,  and  28th  August,  1831 
"  I  had  just  sat  down  to  copy  out  two  new  things  for  you,  when 
Napier  brought  a  Scotch  friend  of  his  to  visit  me,  and  I  must 
defer  my  task  till  to-morrow."  "  I  hope  your  copy  of  Lord 
Edward  was  among  the  first  sent  as  I  ordered."  "  I  send  you 
the  4th  verse  of  the  last  Anthology  Song  and  words  to  be  set 
for  our  Second  Evening  in  Greece.  This  forms  one  of  the 
groups  or  pictures  I  told  you  of — an  Arab  girl  and  her  lover 
conversing  by  signs  in  presence  of  her  parents.  He  kissing  a 
lotus  flower  (which  is  the  emblem  of  beauty  among  the  Arabs) 
and  she  holding  up  to  him  a  small  Mirror,  such  as  the  Arab 
women  wear  fastened  to  their  thumbs.  You  shall  have  the 
verses  descriptive  of  the  same  in  the  course  of  this  week."  Song 
and  Duett  of  The  Lotus  and  the  Mirror  (unpublished)  two 
verses, 

"  Love  hath  a  language  of  his  own, 
A  voice,  that  goes 
From  heart  to  heart,  whose  mystic  tone 
Love  only  knows,"  &c. 
The  Longmans  have  sold  nearly  the  whole   1500  of  my  Lord 
Edward,  which  will  be,  they  say,  about  .£500  to  the  credit  side 
of  my  account,  another  1500  is  what  it  ought  to  sell,  but 
I  fear  it  won't." 

Five  Letters,  one  4to.,  four  8vo.  (three  of  two  sides),  5th,  14th, 
17th,  20th,  and  26th  September,  1831 
"  Have  you  yet  looked  out  Napier's  verses  for  me  ?  you  will 

M   2 


1G4 

know  them  by  the  odd  upright  hand  writing,  and  let  the  ori- 
ginal stay  where  it  is,  till  I  decide  what  I  (or  we)  shall  do  with 
them."     "  I  have  heard  a  good  deal  about  my  brother  lyrist, 


#     n 


in 


but  he  is  not,  I  think,  in  the  King's  Bench."  *  • 
short  the  whole  '  Butterfly  bower'  is  blown  in  the  air.  Poor 
devil !"  "I  have  been  engaged  in  a  task  which,  of  all  others, 
I  dislike — namely,  writing  an  Article  for  the  Edinburgh  Review, 
having  long  promised  the  Editor  I  would  give  him  one,  and 
wishing  also  to  oblige  the  Longmans."  "  The  Air  was  given 
to  me  by  Young,  the  actor."  "  Young  lives  in  Pall  Mall,  I  think." 
"  Pray  pay  the  inclosed  to  Paris  ;  it  is  in  answer  to  a  communi- 
cation from  no  less  a  personage  than  the  King  of  France  about 
my  book."  "  I  am  almost  ashamed  to  tell  you  how  pleased 
I  was  with  the  things  of  my  own  you  sent  me.  I  had  forgot 
all  of  them  but  their  names,  and  they  come  therefore  fresh  upon 
me.  I  have  seldom,  if  ever,  written  anything  so  truly  lyrical 
as  two  or  three  of  them  are.  I  was  also  glad  for  another  reason, 
as  two  of  them  will  come  in  most  charmingly  for  our  second 
(and  last)  Evening,  so  that  we  have  now  at  least  five  or  six 
pretty  things  towards  it."  "  What  you  sent  me  is  not  Napier's, 
nor  was  it,  I  think,  among  the  things  I  gave  you  with  Napier's; 
for  those  were  for  the  Miscellany,  and  this  (which  I  inclose)  was 
merely  given  for  you  to  have  set  by  somebody.  Napier's  verses 
were,  if  I  recollect  right,  with  a  little  packet  of  verses,  prose, 
&c.  chiefly  of  my  own,  which  I  intended  for  the  Miscellany. 
Translations  from  Catullus,  Sketches  of  Pere  La  Chaise, 
&c.  There  was  also  some  verses  of  Luttrel's  which  are  now 
of  no  use,  as  on  understanding  that  I  had  given  up  the  idea 
of  a  Miscellany,  he  made  a  present  of  them  to  his  Son,  who 
got  twenty  guineas  for  them  from  the  Keepsake.  Pray  look 
again  for  his  verses.  It  shows  how  much  better  supplied  I  am 
with  words  than  with  airs  that  (as  I  find  by  the  MSS.  you  have 
sent  me)  I  have  actually  written  two  sets  of  words  to  each  of 
two  airs — bigamy  in  Song  completely.     I  must  now  find  part- 


165 

ners  for  the  discarded  wives,  which  are  both  (though  I  say  it 
that  should'nt  say  it)  pretty."  "  I  understated  the  duplicate 
words  I  had  written ;  there  were  no  less  than  three  airs  to 
which  I  had  put  two  sets  of  words  each."  "  What  do  you 
think  of  Murray  ?  Besides  the  8vo.  Edition  of  my  life  of  Byron, 
which  he  has  printed,  he  is  going  now  to  publish  a  small  one 
like  the  Waverley  Novels  to  come  out  Monthly,  with  vignettes, 
&c.  My  portrait,  from  Lawrence,  to  be  among  the  engravings 
—  what  enormous  expenditure  !" 

Four  Letters,  one  4to.,  three  8vo.,  2nd,  11th,  21st,  and  24th 
October,  1831 
"  You  have  here  my  attempt  at  setting  '  Guess,  Guess,' 
[printed  in  Collected  Edition  of  Moore's  tvorks,  until  then 
unpublished]  for  our  Greek  work.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
satisfy  myself,  but  I  think  when  Bishop  and  I  meet,  we  shall 
contrive  to  make  something  pretty  out  of  it."  "The  Napiers 
have  been  passing  their  last  two  farewell  days  with  us,  which 
has  interrupted  me.  I  was  very  sorry  not  to  have  his  verses  to 
give  him,  and  cannot  think  why  you  have  not  sent  them  to  me. 
I  have  some  little  idea  of  coming  up  to  town  to  take  leave  of 
poor  Sir  W.  Scott,  who  has  expressed  a  wish  to  see  me  before 
he  goes.  I  am  told  he  is  a  good  deal  better."  "  I  had  some- 
thing to  send  you  yesterday,  but  as  you  will  see  myself  on 
"Wednesday  or  Thursday,  I  may  as  well  be  the  bearer  of  it. 
My  chief  object  in  coming  up  is  to  see  Sir  W.  Scott  before  his 
departure,  and  Murray  has  also  some  matters  to  consult  me 
upon  relative  to  the  illustrations  of  his  New  Edition  of  the  Life, 
&c.  &c.  so  I  go  to  his  house  for  the  few  days  I  stay.  I  was  dis- 
appointed in  not  receiving  my  Edinburgh  Review  which  I  suppose 
was  sent  to  you.  If  so,  open  it  and  read  Shiel's  Article  upon 
Lord  Edward,  and  also  (as  I  know  you  are  fond  of  the  Church) 
an  Article  entitled  *  State  of  Protestantism  in  Germany,'  which 
is  the  one  I  told  you  I  was  employed  about ;-  but  this  you  will 
keep  to  yourself.     I  am  sorry  1  gave  you  such  trouble  about 


1GG 

these  verses  of  Napier's,  but  I  felt  quite  sure  they  were  among 
(he  Miscellany  Papers.  I  suppose  I  have  them  myself  some- 
where.  I  will  see  you  if  possible  on  Wednesday  evening." 
"  I  got  down  very  comfortably,"  &e.  "  I  want  you  to  go  as 
soon  as  you  can  conveniently,  to  a  book-shop  in  Piccadilly,  not 
far  from  Bond  Street,  and  on  that  side  of  the  way,  which  con- 
tains books  labelled  with  their  prices  in  the  window,  and  there 
to  buy  me  a  copy  of  Bland's  Anthology  which  I  saw  in  the 
window,  but  was  in  too  great  a  hurry  at  the  time  to  stop  to 
purchase  it.  It  is  marked  12  shillings,  but  yew  will,  I  dare  say, 
get  it  for  less."  "You  shall  have,  by  to-morrow's  post,  the 
Dedication  and  Introduction  to  the  Summer  Fete.  I  don't 
know  what  to  do  with  that  thing  you  have  so  often  sent  me, 
'Goodbye,  my  youth' — having  tried  over  and  over  to  make 
something  tolerable  of  it,  without  success.  I  shall  see,  how- 
ever, whether  upon  the  same  thought,  and  taking  what  sailors 
call  '  a  fresh  departure,'  I  may  not  do  something  better." 

Five  Letters,  one  4to.,  four   Svo.,   2nd,    7th,  9th,  19th,  and  28th 
November,  1^31 
"  I  send  you  a  very  pretty  Air  of  Miss  lloulton's,  to  which 
I  was  verv  irlad  to  be  able  to  write  nice  words."     The  Cholera 
panic.     "  I  dare  say  Doctor  Russell  himself  would,  in  the  event 
of  the   disease  actually   reaching  London,   dismiss  the  whole 
school,  as  that  part  of  the  town  would  be  of  all  others  least 
eligible  in  such  circumstances.     But  I  should  not  like  you  to 
wait  for  this,  but   on   the  first  intelligence  of  the  approach  of 
Cholera  to  do  as  I  have  said  above,  shewing  this  letter  to  Doc- 
tor Russell   as  your  authority  for  what  you  do.      The  News- 
papers  to-morrow  morning   may  perhaps  decide  me  as  to  the 
steps  to  take,  but  in  the  mean  time  (that  is,  between  this  and 
your  hearing  from  me  again)  I  leave  all   to  your  own  discre- 
ti  hi."      "  Many  thanks   for  the  good   fish,  which  feasted  Miss 
Starkey,  Hughes  and  ourselves  yesterday.     I  want  you  to  go 
with  the  letter  to  Rogers  yourself,  and  to  ask  whether  he  is  in 


167 

town — if  not,  enquire  his  address  (that  is,  if  he  is  not  expected 
back  soon),  and,  directing  the  letter  accordingly,  put  it  in  the 
post."  "I  see  the  alarm  from  Cholera  has  subsided  ;  but  we 
shall  have  it  yet."  "They  had  some  hundred  policemen  sta- 
tioned in  the  Charter  House  the  other  day.  What  a  state 
England  is  brought  to!"  Directions  to  bind  a  copy  of  the 
Irish  Melodies  "  for  a  wedding  present,  and  the  sooner  it  is 
done  the  better." 

Five  Letters,   one  4to.,  three  Svo.,   one   12mo.,    8th   (two)  and 
28th  December.     Two  undated  (one  of  two  sides),  1831 
Note  {undelivered)  to  the  Rev.  Doctor  Russell,  of  the  Char- 
ter House.     "I  have  had  just  time  to  read  over  Mr.  Wade's 
MS.    and  dispatch   it   back  to  you.     I  find    it   is    merely   a 
History  of  Ancient  Music,  and,  though  appearing  to  be   done 
with    considerable    talent,    by    no   means    comprises   the    part 
of  the   subject   which  would  make  it  a  work  of  much  general 
interest.     This  is  all  I   have  to  say,  but  you  may  shew  him 
this  note,  with  my  compliments  and  best  thanks  for  the  flatter- 
ing manner  in  which  he  has  spoken  of  myself.     The    piracies 
another  time.     It  is  too  bad  of  the  fellows  to  rob  me   of  my 
Romaika."     "  The   books  need  not  be  bound,  nor  need   they 
come   down  to  me,  as  it  will  be   sufficient  to  write  in  them. 
'  From  the  Author,'  and  the   persons  that  occur  to  me  at  pre- 
sent, are  C.  C.  F.  Greville,  Esq.  11,  Suffolk  Street,  Haymarket, 
(I  think  it  is    11,  but  you  will  know  at  the  Council  Office), 
Lady  Frances  L.  Gower,  Biidgewater  House,  Cleveland   Row, 
and   Henry   Luttrel,   Esq.   Brookes'    Club    House.     You    had 
better,  I   think,    send  one  also  to  E.  L.    Bulwer,  Esq.    M.P., 
'  from  the  Author.'     He  is,  you  know,   Colburn's  Editor,  and 
lives  in  Hereford  Street,  May  Fair.     As  to  Barnes  and  Jerdan, 
if  you  send  copies  to  them,  you  may  put  '  from  the  Author '  or 
not,  just  as  you  think  adviseable."     "  If  I  puzzled   Bishop,  he 
has,  in  return,  puzzled  me  still  more.     The   fact  is,  though  his 
accompaniments  are  beautiful,  he  has,  by  the  alterations  he  has 


168 

made,  changed  the  whole  character  of  the  Air,"  &c.  "  I  can- 
not find  where  my  verses,  '  Die  where  you  will,'  have  hcen  pub- 
lished, but,  I  rather  think,  it  must  have  been  in  the  last  editions 
of  the  Two-penny  Post  Bag,  or,  perhaps,  of  the  Fudge  Family 
— at  the  end.'' 

Four  Letters,  one  -Ito.  (two  sides)  three  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides), 
10th,  17th,  21st,  and  :51st  January,  1832 
"Our  dissipations  here  continue,  but,  thank  God  !  the  meet- 
ing of  Parliament  will   rid   me  soon  of  all  this  idling.     I  have 
had  lately  most  splendid  offers  from  Colburn  (through  his  new 
Editor),  to  furnish  Squibs  to  his  Magazine — but  have  declined. 
'  Terms   (says   Bulwcr  in  his  letter)  which   only  so  opulent  a 
publisher  as   Mr.  Colburn  could  afford  to  offer.'      I  could  not> 
however,  let  this  boast  pass  without  saying,  that  liberal  as  was 
Mr.  Colburn's  offer,  I  must  do  the  Magnificos  of  the  Times 
the  justice  to  say  that  it  fell  short  of  them.     It  was  for  such 
things  as  I   sent  the  Times  he  had  asked."     "  Murray  writes 
me  word  that  his  new  Edition  is  doing  very  well.     Have   you 
observed  the  usual  shuffling  in  his  advertisements  of  it  1     At 
first  suppressing  my  name  altogether,  and  now  putting  it  the 
most  prominent,    as  if  the  whole  was   edited  by  me.     There 
never  was  such  an  odd   fellow."      Sends    "  the  MS.  of  that 
tiresome  namesake  of  mine,  to  whom  you  may  give  a  pound 
for  me,  if  you   think   he  is   really  so  wretched  as  he   says." 
"The  address  of  my  namesake  is  48,   Chandos   Square,   St. 
Martin's  Lane.     The  poor  devil,   as  a   last   hope,   has    since 
written  to  beg  a  copy  of  the  Summer  Fete,  meaning,  of  course, 
to  pawn  it.     Let  him  have  the  Sovereign  instead." 
Two  Letters,  8vo.,   19th  and  26th  February,  1832 

"  I  am  very  nearly  well  of  my  Influenza,  and  hope  you  and 
yours  keep  free  of  all  aches  and  alarms,  in  these  alarming  times." 
"  I  have  nothing  for  you  in  the  way  of  work  to-day,"  &c. 

Six   Letters,    four   4to.    (one    unsigned),   two    8vo.   (one  of  two 
sides),  8th,  1 1th,  14th,  18th,  21st,  23rd  March,  1832 


169 

"  I  send  you  more  of  the  Evening  ;  the  four  last  lines  not 
yet  finished.  My  closing  scene  will  be  a  puzzler,  as  I  wish  to 
make  it  both  a  lively  and  probable  termination  of  the  whole 
work  by  bringing  the  absent  Warriors  home,  while  the  young 
ladies  are  at  supper.  As  to  pictures  this  poem  abounds  with 
them  ;  but  where  is  the  artist  ?"  "I  don't  know  where  Crofton 
Croker  lives,  and  this  letter  being  upon  a  subject  in  which  a 
neighbour  of  mine  is  interested  I  wish  it  forwarded  by  Twopenny 
Post  immediately."  "  My  own  movements  will  also  a  good  deal 
depend  on  the  answer,  as  it  will  decide,  I  think,  whether  I  shall 
go  before  Patrick's  day,  or  after."  "  Did  I  tell  you  of  another 
Magazine  Editor  being  at  me  with  all  sorts  of  good  offers  1  The 
new  opponent  of  Blackwood  in  Edinburgh.  He  got  the  usual 
answer.  They  appear  to  be  making  great  efforts  for  this  new 
start."  "  Doctor  Russell's  answer  has  decided  me  not  to  come 
up  till  the  end  of  next  week,  which  will  suit  me  much  better 
(all  except  the  losing  St.  Paddy's  day)."  "I  have  had  no 
formal  requisition  yet  from  Limerick,  but  I  rather  think  they 
mean  to  tempt  me.  What  they  propose  is  a  subscription  among 
the  women  of  Ireland  for  the  purpose,  which  would  certainly  be  a 
very  pretty  way  of  doing  the  thing."  "There  was  a  Grand 
Fancy  Entertainment  given  at  a  private  house  in  Bath  lately, 
consisting  of  scenes  out  of  Lalla  Rookh  and  the  Evenings  in 
Greece  ;  the  Music  of  the  latter  got  up  by  professors.  They 
ought  to  have  asked  the  author  to  it." 

Three  Letters,  4to.,  11th,  13th,  and  26th  April,  1832 

"  I  have  not  been  able  to  finish  copying  out  the  lines  I  showed 
you  in  town  sufficiently  soon  to  go  in  this  cover;  but  they  and 
more  shall  go  next  time."  "  I  should  like  to  have  at  the  same 
time  a  copy  of  the  Summer  Fete,  for  which  I  fear,  by  your 
account,  I  am  your  best  customer."  "A  man  called  upon  me 
yesterday,  who  told  me  he  had  enquired  for  me  at  your  house 
on  Tuesday.  Harding,  the  bookseller  of  Cornhill.  He  came 
expressly  by  the  Mail  to  offer  me  1000  guineas  for  a  Poem  — 


170 

the  third  of  the  size  ofLalla  Rookh — to  have  illustrated  in  the 
maimer  of  Rogers's.  I  asked  him  was  he  aware  that  Rogers's 
hook  had  cost  him  .£7000  ?  He  said,  yes  —  '  But  then  the 
badness  of  the  times,'  said  I.  All  this,  he  answered,  that  he  had 
taken  into  consideration,  hut  the  rage  for  illustrated  works  was 
so  great,  that  he  had  no  doubt  of  success,  if  I  would  write  the 
Poem.  I  did  not  like  to  give  the  poor  man  a  decided  •  No.' 
So  he  returned  by  the  Mail  last  night  as  he  came.  I  mention 
this  to  you,  because  you  were  talking  of  having  the  Evenings  in 
Greece  illustrated,  and  it  is  at  least  a  bookseller's  opinion  in 
favour  of  the  success  of  such  a  plan."  "  I  send  you  a  portion 
of  the  Second  Evening  corrected  for  the  Press,"  &c. 

Two  Letters,  one  8vo.,  one  12mo.,  4th  and  16th  May,  1832 

"  I  send  you  some  more  of  the  Evening."  "Bishop  is,  I 
must  say,  very  provoking.  I  send  his  account  book  back." 
"  We  are  both  much  obliged  by  your  kind  note,  but  it  is  not 
the  intention  of  either  of  us  to  come  to  town  for  some  time.  I 
was  myself  about  to  start  for  Ireland  when  the  melancholy  news 
[of  his  mother  s  death]  reached  me." 

Four  Letters,   one  4to.,  two   8vo.,   one  irregular,  11th  June,  1st, 
8th,  and  14th  July,  1832 

"  I  sent  by  mistake,  yesterday,  both  of  Bishop's  settings  of 
the  Dying  Warrior  to  his  Sword,  and  want  one  of  them  (it 
does'nt  matter  which)  back  again  to  write  words  to,  any  time 
will  do."  "  I  was  in  Devizes  from  Thursday  till  yesterday 
evening,  and  did  not  receive  your  packet  till  my  return."  "  I 
should  be  glad  when  you  have  occasion  to  write  again  that  you 
would  say  through  what  channel  the  Collection  of  Irish  Airs 
sent  to  me  from  America  (which  came  in  the  last  parcel)  reached 
your  hands." 

Three  Letters,  one  8vo.,  two  12mo.  (one  of  two  sides),  Gth,  8th, 
and  26th  August,  1832 
"  I  am  sorry  to  have  been  obliged  to  make  so  much  alteration 


171 

in  the  words  of  '  Welcome,  sweet  bird/  but  it  has,  from  the  first 

given  me  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  being  a  most  awkward  air  to 

put  words  to." 

[On  the  back  is  written  and  struck  through."] 

"  Sloperton,  August  6,  1832. 
"  My  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr. 
O'Connell  at  Bristol  the  other  day,  when  we  had  a  good 
deal  of  conversation  on  the  subject  to  which  you  allude, 
and  were  it  lucky  my  to  have  enjoyed  the  advan- 
tage.—  " 

"I  send  you  two  Songs.  'The  Russian  Lover,' and  'Hush,  sweet 
Lute,'  and  the  reason  of  my  troubling  you  with  them  on  a  Sun- 
day is  to  request  that  you  will  oblige  Mr.  Phipps  by  performing 
the  inclosed  commission  for  him.  I  forget  the  name  of  the 
fishmonger  in  your  neighbourhood  (whether  it  is  Garbage  or 
Groutage),  but  you  will  know  the  person  I  mean,  and  be  so 
good  as  to  mention  that  I  recommended  him." 
Three  Letters,  one  4to.  (franked  "  Lansdowne"),  two  8vo.,  -4th, 
7th,  and  8th  September,  1832 
"  I  return  the  Proofs  and  Revises,  with  (I  am  sorry  to  say) 
a  few  more  corrections  in  the  latter.  I  send  you  also  a  new 
Song,  •  The  days  are  gone,'  which  with  two  of  the  four  others 
inclosed  (you  can  take  your  choice)  completes  the  number  that 
were  wanting  to  make  up  my  due  quantity.  By  my  next  parcel 
I  shall  send  a  third  verse  for  'The  days  are  gone,'  and  your 
account  book,  as  also  the  copy  of  the  Pere  La  Chaise  Anecdotes, 
which  I  am  very  sorry  your  daughter  had  the  trouble  of 
writing,  as  it  was  not  that  I  wanted,  but  two  or  three  transla- 
tions from  Catullus,  which  were  with  it,  and  which  I  should 
be  glad  to  have  by  the  next  parcel."  "  I  send  the  third  verse 
of  'The  days  are  gone' — a  very  appropriate  title  for  the  last 
Song  it  is  possible  I  may  ever  write  for  you.  It  is  not  without 
pain  that  I  use  these  expressions,  and  I  will  hope  for  both  our 
sakes  that  the  result  may  be  otherwise  —but  all  will  depend  upon 


m 

the  shape  in  which  the  enclosed  Account  Book  is  returned  to 
me."  "  Have  the  goodness  to  say,  in  your  next,  the  exact  day 
on  which  my  last  bill  upon  you  becomes  due."  "  I  send  you 
a  Melody.  "Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  ask  at  llidgway's, 
Piccadilly,  for  a  speech  of  Sir  II.  Parnell's  this  last  Session, 
and  send  it  to  me  when  you  have  a  parcel."  "  Many  thanks 
for  the  nice  oysters."  "  I  had  got  this  frank  [not  posted]  from 
Lord  Lansdownc,  but  find  he  misdated  it." 

Five    Letters,    one   4to.,    two    8vo.,    two    12mo.,   5th    and   16th 
October,  5th,    17th,  and  30th  November,  1832. 
"  I  forgot   to  say  that  the  Guittar  is  wanted  almost  imme- 
diately, and  you  will  therefore  lose  no  time  in  sending  it."     "  I 
have  only  time  in  dispatching  the  inclosed  to  express  my  sincere 
regret  at  your  continued  illness,  and  my  hope   that  you  will 
soon  have  better  news  to  send  me."      "  I   rejoice   to   hear  that 
you  are  so  much  better."      "  I  have  not  time   for    more,  but 
hope  to  hear  that  you  are  quite  recovered." 
Four  Letters,   three  4to.,  one  8vo.,   3rd,   15th,  26th,  and  28th 
December,  1832 
"  Pray  forgive  all  this  haste  and  trouble."     "  There  is  no- 
thing more  necessary  to  be   done,   in  the  way  of  preface  or 
advertisement  for  the  Second   Evening."       "  Mrs.    Moore  is 
much  obliged  for  the  copy  of  the  Second  Evening,  and  I  am 
thankful  to  you  for  sending  one  to  my  sister."     "  We  have  to 
thank  you  for  a  very  fine  present  of  Fish,  which  has  uot  only 
feasted  ourselves  but  many  of  our  neighbours." 
Unpublished    MS.   by   Mr.   Moore,    in   his   autograph.    Eight 
closely  written  pages,  4 to,  on  three  sheets  of  paper,  with 
indorsement  of  date  in  pencil  by  Mr.  Poiver,  referring 
to  September  and  November,   1827,  and  headed  by  Mr. 
Moore,  "  Sketches  of  Paris.     Sketch  the  First — Pere  la 
Chaise." 
Four  Letters,  8vo.,  1 1th,  1 3th,  and  2 1  st  March,  and  3rd  April,  1 833 
"  It  gave  me  much  pleasure  to  receive  your  note,  and  I  regret 
having  been  obliged  to  defer  our  meeting  so  long — but  as  the 


173 

printer  is  at  my  heels,  I  am  obliged  to  work  all  the  first  hours 
of  the  morning.  On  Wednesday,  however,  as  soon  after  half- 
past  ten  as  may  suit  you,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  see  you." 
"  I  shall  thank  you  to  send  as  soon  as  you  receive  this,  a  copy 
of  the  two  Evenings  in  Greece,  directed  to  Miss  Barbara 
Godfrey,  35,  Berkely  Square.  She  leaves  town  in  the  morning, 
and  therefore  I  wish  her  to  bave  the  book  to-night.  I  shall 
expect  to  see  you  to-morrow  evening."  "  The  dinner  the  other 
day  was  more  of  company  than  I  expected,  aud  accordingly  I 
had  not  an  opportunity  of  mentioning  our  business  to  Mr. 
Rees ;  but  as  soon  as  my  occupations  will  allow  of  my  going 
out  in  the  morning,  I  shall  call  upon  him  on  the  subject." 
"  Mr.  Rogers,  to  whom  I  have  spoken,  has  consented  to  assist 
us  in  our  object."  "  I  was  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  see  you 
yesterday,  being  still  very  much  occupied  all  the  mornings — 
but  if  you  can  call  here  on  Friday  morning  between  ten  and 
eleven  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you.' ' 

Two  Letters,  8vo.  (one  of  two  sides),  4th  December,  1834,  and 
2 1 st  November,  1835 
"  I  have  to  apologize  for  not  sooner  applying  myself  to  the 
subject  to  which  you  drew  my  attention — but  being  busily  em- 
ployed in  sending  off  the  first  Copy  of  my  Irish  History  to  the 
press,  as  also  fancying,  that  the  task  you  sent  me  was  something 
requiring  more  time  than  I  find  it  actually  does,  I  was  induced 
to  defer  it  till  this  moment.  It  strikes  me  (after  turning  the 
matter  over  in  my  mind  a  good  deal)  that  the  present  Preface 
with  the  few  alterations  you  will  find  made  in  it,  is  as  good  and 
apropos  as  any  new  one  I  could  prefix.  I  have  found,  however, 
a  most  extraordinary  erratum  in  the  Letter  Press  of  the  Tenth 
Number,  which  cannot  be  allowed  to  go  forth  without  correc- 
tion ;  and  if  it  was  really  in  the  proofs  sent  to  me,  nothing  but 
the  unlikelihood  of  such  a  mistake  occurring  could  have  pre- 
vented me  from  perceiving  it.  In  order  to  turn  aside  the  too 
strong  application  of  the  words  of  the  Song,  '  To-morrow,  Com- 
rad,'  &c.  to  the  present  state  of  Ireland,   I  had  taken  care  to 


174 

prefix  to  it  '  Time,  the  Ninth  Century,'  and  the  Printer  here,  in 
order  to  saddle  me  with  what  I  took  so  much  paius  to  avoid, 
has  made  it  the  nineteenth  Century!  As  a  joke  it  wouldn't  be 
bad,  but  from  a  Printer's  devil  it  is  rather  too  much.  I  meant 
to  have  said  something  more  -  but  do  not  like  to  lose  this  post. 
Pray  see  that  this  passage  is  corrected."  "  Dec.  5.  The  parcel 
was,  after  all,  too  late  yesterday,  and  I  open  my  note  to  insert  a 
few  additional  words.  I  think  it  but  fair,  after  our  long  con- 
nexion together,  to  apprize  you  that  I  occasionally  still  occupy 
myself  with  music,  and  mean  in  the  course  of  next  Season  to 
publish  some  single  Songs  (either  single  or  in  a  set),  and  like- 
wise to  finish  a  set  of  Sacred  Songs  which  I  have  been  from 
time  to  time  employed  upon.  I  shall  only  add  that  I  have  not 
yet  entered  into  negociations.  I  inclose  a  letter  which  I  re- 
ceived some  time  since  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  on  the 
subject  of  his  intended  work.  I  had  better  see  a  proof  of  the 
corrected  Preface,  and  if  you  will  have  your  inclosure  left  with 
the  waiter  at  Brooks's  it  will  come  franked  to  me."  "  I  have 
just  recollected,  in  sending  off  these  proofs,  that  I  have  another 
still  uncorrected  ('  Not  from  Thee ')  to  send  you.  It  shall  go 
in  the  first  parcel  I  am  forwarding  to  the  Longmans."  -"  I 
should  be  obliged  by  your  letting  me  have  a  set  of  proofs  of 
these  Songs  for  my  own  use  when  you  are  sending  again — as  I 
think  you  had  better — at  least  revises  of  those  in  which  I  have 
made  much  correction." 

Four  Letters,  8  vo.,  16  th  February,  10th,  16th,  and  2 1st  March,  1836 
"  I  send  back  the  proofs,  and  shall  be  obliged  by  your  look- 
ing particularly  to  the  restoration  of  the  original  accompaniment 
to  a  bar  or  two  in  the  Song,  «  Go  and  forget  it  all.'  I  don't 
know  how  or  by  whom  the  accompaniment  (which  is  Cheru- 
bim's own)  was  altered  or  mangled,  but  it  makes  havoc  of  the 
whole  Song."  "  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  satisfy  myself  in  an 
Air  to  '  The  days  are  gone,'  but  you  shall  have  it  before  long." 
Mr.  Power  died  ox  the  26th  August,  1836. 


175 
NOTICE  OF  MR.  POWER. 

[From  the  London  Literary  Gazette,  vol.  xx.  No.  102-1,  p.  573.] 

"  We  have  to  record  with  feelings  of  sincere  regret,  the  death 
of  this  eminent  music-publisher,  and  most  excellent  man.  He 
died  on  the  evening  of  Friday  the  2Gth  ultimo  at  his  house, 
22,  Buckingham  Street,  Strand,  after  a  very  short  illness,  and  at 
the  age  of  seventy,  according  to  the  newspaper  announcement. 

"As  '  the  noblest  work  of  God'  an  honest  man,  and  as  an  up- 
right tradesman,  Mr.  Power  enjoyed  the  respect  of  every  one  to 
whom  in  the  way  of  business  he  was  known  ;  as  well  as  the  private 
friendship  of  many  distinguished  individuals,  and  the  personal 
esteem  of  all  who  were  capable  of  appreciating  the  moral  dignity 
of  his  character.  But  it  is  as  connected  with  national  music  and 
literature,  that  the  name  of  James  Power  will  long  be  remembered. 
He  was  the  early  and  unostentatious  patron,  and  subsequently, 
the  steady  friend  of  Moore,  when  adverse  circumstances  clouded 
the  poet's  fortune. 

"  Mr.  Power  was  born  at  Galway,  in  Ireland  ;  his  parents  were 
highly  respectable,  but  they  had  the  good  sense,  instead  of  allow- 
ing their  son  to  grow  up  a  fox-hunting  gentleman,  to  apprentice 
him  to  a  pewterer  in  his  native  town.  By  the  same  regularity  of 
habit,  and  attention  to  business,  which  distinguished  him  in  after 
life,  James  Power  soon  became  so  skilful  an  artificer,  that  he 
undertook  to  repair  the  bugles  of  a  light  infantry  regiment,  then 
quartered  at  Galway.  This  undertaking,  although  at  the  time 
he  was  perfectly  ignorant  of  the  construction  of  the  instrument, 
was  accomplished  by  him  so  skilfully,  that  the  bugles  and  trum- 
pets of  different  regiments  in  Ireland,  were  sent  to  him  for  repair. 
Finding  the  reputation  of  his  workmanship  was  daily  increasing, 
Mr.  Power  removed  to  Dublin,  and  established  himself  in  West- 
moreland Street  as  a  military  instrument  manufacturer.  This  step 
involved  the  necessity  of  dealing  a  little  in  music,  and  he  took  a 
younger  brother  (Mr.  William  Power)  into  partnership,  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  to  his  increasing  business. 

"  The  demand  in  Dublin  for  lyrical  compositions,  induced  Mr. 
Power  to  enter  into  the  speculation  of  offering  Mr.  Moore,  some 
of  whose  productions  had  already  been  published  by  him,  the  sum 
of  fiftv  pounds  for  a  set  of  twelve  songs,  adapted  to  Irish  melodies, 
to  be  arranged  by  Sir  John  Stevenson.  We  have  been  told  tha 
the    success  of  the    first    number  of  the   '  Irish  Melodies '  was 


176 

such  as  to  induce  the  Messrs.  Power  to  enter  into  an  agreement 
with  Mr.  Moore,  for  an  annuity  of  five  hundred  pounds  for  seven 
years,  on  condition  of  receiving  from  him  a  certain,  and  not  very 
large  number  of  songs.  And  this  agreement  was,  we  believe, 
twice  subsequently  renewed  by  Mr.  James  Power,  wbo,  sbortly 
before  the  appearance  of  tbe  second  number  of  tbe  '  Irish  Melodies  ' 
(October  1807),  removed  from  Dublin  to  London,  and  commenced 
business  as  a  music-publisher  on  his  own  account,  at  his  present 
warehouse,  No.  34,  Strand. 

"  The  publications  of  Mr.  Power  embrace  a  collection  of  the 
compositions  of  the  most  popular  lyric  writers  of  the  last  thirty 
years,  which  were  always  produced  from  his  press  in  a  style  of 
neatness  of  embellishment,  superior  to  all  contemporary  works. 
Many  oi  them  have  received  a  passing  tribute  of  approbation  at 
our  hands,  as  a  reference  to  the  pages  of  the  Literary  Gazette 
will  prove.  But  the  principal  work  with  which  the  name  of 
James  Power  will  remain  proudly  associated,  is  the  collection 
of  '  Irish  Melodies '  by  Moore,  arranged  by  Stevenson  and 
Bishop  ;  a  publication  which  extends  to  ten  numbers,  with  a  sup- 
plemental one,  which  appeared  at  intervals  between  1807  and  1834, 
a  space  of  twenty-seven  years,  with  undiminished  popularity.  The 
publisher,  although  as  unostentatious  a  man  as  ever  breathed,  and 
most  strongly  opposed  to  the  tricks  of  puffery,  appears  himself  to 
have  felt  a  degree  of  honest  pride  out  of  his  connection  with  this 
beautiful  national  work,  from  his  having  latterly  adopted  the  pun- 
ning imprint  of  '  The  Power  of  Melodij  '  around  an  Irish  harp. 

"  Mr.  Power  has  left  a  widow  and  a  large  family,  by  whom  no 
doubt  his  lucrative  business  will  be  carried  on,  as  he  possessed  the 
copyright  of  many  valuable  musical  and  literary  works." 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


jUW  2  2 


JUL  1 


61986 


Form  L9-5UW-11, '50 (2554)444 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


T  AC!     AMrurrc 


5056  Notos  froia  the 

A4P8 — lottoro  of 

:omas  Moore. 


AA  000  380  399  6 


56 


A4P8 


. 


